The Battle of Largs A Gothic Poem. With Several Miscellaneous Pieces [by John Galt] |
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| 4. | CANTO FOURTH. |
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 | The Battle of Largs |  |
37
CANTO FOURTH.
‘Lo, crowds on crowds increase around,
‘And battering hoofs disperse the ground,
‘A knight before impatient rides,
‘And madly spurs his courser's sides.’
On Falkland's regal towers at eve,
What time the watchmen charge receive,
The warder cried, afar below
The rushing crowd exclaim'd, ‘the foe!’
‘And battering hoofs disperse the ground,
‘A knight before impatient rides,
‘And madly spurs his courser's sides.’
On Falkland's regal towers at eve,
What time the watchmen charge receive,
The warder cried, afar below
The rushing crowd exclaim'd, ‘the foe!’
Unconscious of the pregnant hour,
And eased of pomp, the load of power,
The King at supper's social treat
Flavour'd with cheerful jibes the meat,
When loudly rose the gathering noise
Of trampling steeds, and shouts and cries.
Startled the monarch heard amaz'd,
The dames in silent horror gaz'd;
Their flashing swords the barons drew,
And round their youthful sov'reign flew.
The ghastly squires their charge resign,
And gorgeous goblets flowing wine
Unheeded drench the matted floor,
While every eye is on the door.
In breathless haste and pale appear'd,
With gory spurs and all besmear'd,
The knight impatient from the west,
And thus the wond'ring king addrest.
‘Lord of unconquer'd Scotland, arm,
‘The seas with hostile navies swarm
‘From savage Norway's wintry coast,
‘Freighted with crafty Hako's host:
‘With barks and brands the faithless isles
‘Enlarge his force and aid his wiles.
‘Wrapt in the drapery of the blast,
‘Kintyre's high fractured mull they pass'd;
‘Hoarse as the surge on Carrick's shore,
‘The prows increas'd the ocean's roar.’
‘Bring me old Lion William's sword,’
Cried Scotland's proud indignant lord,
‘And let the bugles vent afar
‘The signal sounds of instant war;
‘Call out the hardy northern thanes,
‘And rouse the warriors of the plains:
‘Firm as our hills the tempest brave,
‘Our breasts shall bear the battle's wave,
‘And Scotland's high emblazon'd fame
‘New trophies from our vengeance claim.’
And eased of pomp, the load of power,
The King at supper's social treat
Flavour'd with cheerful jibes the meat,
When loudly rose the gathering noise
Of trampling steeds, and shouts and cries.
38
The dames in silent horror gaz'd;
Their flashing swords the barons drew,
And round their youthful sov'reign flew.
The ghastly squires their charge resign,
And gorgeous goblets flowing wine
Unheeded drench the matted floor,
While every eye is on the door.
In breathless haste and pale appear'd,
With gory spurs and all besmear'd,
The knight impatient from the west,
And thus the wond'ring king addrest.
‘Lord of unconquer'd Scotland, arm,
‘The seas with hostile navies swarm
‘From savage Norway's wintry coast,
‘Freighted with crafty Hako's host:
‘With barks and brands the faithless isles
‘Enlarge his force and aid his wiles.
‘Wrapt in the drapery of the blast,
‘Kintyre's high fractured mull they pass'd;
39
‘The prows increas'd the ocean's roar.’
‘Bring me old Lion William's sword,’
Cried Scotland's proud indignant lord,
‘And let the bugles vent afar
‘The signal sounds of instant war;
‘Call out the hardy northern thanes,
‘And rouse the warriors of the plains:
‘Firm as our hills the tempest brave,
‘Our breasts shall bear the battle's wave,
‘And Scotland's high emblazon'd fame
‘New trophies from our vengeance claim.’
The bugles frightful clangor flung,
The mountain echoes wildly rung;
A banner wavering o'er the night,
Far blaz'd the beacon's lurid light;
Anon the distant hills on fire
Inflame the patriots' lofty ire;
With thund'ring hoofs and sparkling feet
The thronging warriors hurrying meet,
Fresh bands on bands successive pour,
And Tumult rules the midnight hour;
Around her hundred torches burn,
The kindling spears the gleams return,
The snorting steeds defiance neigh,
And soldiers ban the tardy day.
All night the eager host amain
Rush'd from the vallies to the plain,
As torrid streams impetuous run,
When the black welkin drowns the sun,
And from the frantic lightning's heel
Resounds the doubling thunder peal.
The mountain echoes wildly rung;
A banner wavering o'er the night,
Far blaz'd the beacon's lurid light;
Anon the distant hills on fire
Inflame the patriots' lofty ire;
With thund'ring hoofs and sparkling feet
The thronging warriors hurrying meet,
40
And Tumult rules the midnight hour;
Around her hundred torches burn,
The kindling spears the gleams return,
The snorting steeds defiance neigh,
And soldiers ban the tardy day.
All night the eager host amain
Rush'd from the vallies to the plain,
As torrid streams impetuous run,
When the black welkin drowns the sun,
And from the frantic lightning's heel
Resounds the doubling thunder peal.
At length the morn with cheerful light
Broke the monotony of night,
And through the grey and misty air
Saw the bold vassals thick repair,
With glowing hearts and aspects stern,
Across the moors and thistly fern:
High Hope before exulting flies,
And waves aloft the heroes' prize,
While ancient strains along the heath
Resolve the soul for fame or death.
When glittering down the mountain's side
A winding band is far descried,
The echoed shouts of those before
To strength their lagging limbs restore.
With warriors hast'ning from the hills,
The plain like a wide Caspian fills,
Replenish'd by an hundred streams,
And sparkling in the morning beams.
Broke the monotony of night,
And through the grey and misty air
Saw the bold vassals thick repair,
With glowing hearts and aspects stern,
Across the moors and thistly fern:
High Hope before exulting flies,
And waves aloft the heroes' prize,
41
Resolve the soul for fame or death.
When glittering down the mountain's side
A winding band is far descried,
The echoed shouts of those before
To strength their lagging limbs restore.
With warriors hast'ning from the hills,
The plain like a wide Caspian fills,
Replenish'd by an hundred streams,
And sparkling in the morning beams.
Still wid'ning like the pebble's blain
On the smooth surface of the main,
The warlike rumour spreads around,
And still indignant valour found,
The hardy village leaps to arms,
The gorgeous city mails her swarms,
The forge, the flail, the loom, the line,
The various sons of toil resign,
And panting for the standard-field,
Assume the spear, the bow, the shield.
On the smooth surface of the main,
The warlike rumour spreads around,
And still indignant valour found,
The hardy village leaps to arms,
The gorgeous city mails her swarms,
The forge, the flail, the loom, the line,
The various sons of toil resign,
And panting for the standard-field,
Assume the spear, the bow, the shield.
42
The King and Barons now prepare
To lead the squadrons to the war,
And as the chiefs evolve along,
Their names adorn the gothic song.
To lead the squadrons to the war,
And as the chiefs evolve along,
Their names adorn the gothic song.
The pious Stewart, grave, serene,
Advances first with princely mien;
His firm and solemn looks exprest
A vig'rous soul in virtuous rest.
From Banquo's fated lineage sprung,
A high renown he gain'd when young,
But cool'd by time, his counsel sage
Has oft allay'd Sedition's rage.
Comyn of Buchan marches next,
A tow'ring chief with eyes unfixt,
Whose proud audacious vassals show
How well their martial worth they know;
Taught by their factious lord, and held
In peace prepar'd for war, they fill'd
The air with noisy insolence,
And dar'd the frowning danger thence.
To these the Lord Dunbar succeeds,
Renown'd for truth and gallant deeds;
His port severe, his visage spare,
And deeply rutted o'er by care,
But warm of heart, of virtue high,
He flourish'd with integrity:
Some might sublimer talents own,
But none of purer worth were known.
Malise, Strathern's brave lib'ral lord,
Came next, his manners as his sword
Alike subdued; bold frank and gay,
His vassals gloried in his sway;
What others reach'd by studious thought,
He by the snatch of passion caught;
When others only earn'd esteem,
Devotion brightly burn'd for him,
And what the good by virtue gain'd,
He by his generous faults obtain'd.
William of Brechin next appear'd,
His helmet plumes less lofty rear'd,
And trimmer mail and plainer shield
A mind of humbler scope reveal'd.
Behind approach'd in order due
Gifford of Yester, vengeful Hugh,
Old Neil of Carrick, and Douglas rude,
Montgomerie of illustrious blood,
The courteous knight of Eglesham,
With Lord Kilmaur's of equal fame,
Gilbert of Errol, William of Marre,
And fierce Monteith renown'd in war,
With many a chief and baron bold,
In ringing mail and burnish'd gold.
Advances first with princely mien;
His firm and solemn looks exprest
A vig'rous soul in virtuous rest.
From Banquo's fated lineage sprung,
A high renown he gain'd when young,
But cool'd by time, his counsel sage
Has oft allay'd Sedition's rage.
Comyn of Buchan marches next,
A tow'ring chief with eyes unfixt,
Whose proud audacious vassals show
How well their martial worth they know;
Taught by their factious lord, and held
In peace prepar'd for war, they fill'd
The air with noisy insolence,
And dar'd the frowning danger thence.
43
Renown'd for truth and gallant deeds;
His port severe, his visage spare,
And deeply rutted o'er by care,
But warm of heart, of virtue high,
He flourish'd with integrity:
Some might sublimer talents own,
But none of purer worth were known.
Malise, Strathern's brave lib'ral lord,
Came next, his manners as his sword
Alike subdued; bold frank and gay,
His vassals gloried in his sway;
What others reach'd by studious thought,
He by the snatch of passion caught;
When others only earn'd esteem,
Devotion brightly burn'd for him,
And what the good by virtue gain'd,
He by his generous faults obtain'd.
William of Brechin next appear'd,
His helmet plumes less lofty rear'd,
44
A mind of humbler scope reveal'd.
Behind approach'd in order due
Gifford of Yester, vengeful Hugh,
Old Neil of Carrick, and Douglas rude,
Montgomerie of illustrious blood,
The courteous knight of Eglesham,
With Lord Kilmaur's of equal fame,
Gilbert of Errol, William of Marre,
And fierce Monteith renown'd in war,
With many a chief and baron bold,
In ringing mail and burnish'd gold.
When all the bright array had pass'd,
His limbs the King in armour cas'd;
Their vaulting steeds the knights bestride,
And to the coast the army guide.
To the loud pipes the vallies rung,
The cliffs were cluster'd by the young;
The old at every cottage door
The boon of Victory implore;
On every tower to cheer the brave
The high born dames their kerchiefs wave;
The cowled monks with lifted hands
Pray at their gates and bless the bands;
While hooded nuns the lattice throng,
To view the warriors wind along.
Sometimes as through the village way
Evolved the radiant long array,
The King with throbbing bosom felt
The kindness of his nature melt,
When some fond mother, scorning shame,
Her darling truant son would claim,
And strongly strive with strength and tears
To wrench him from his bold compeers;
Or if perchance an anxious wife,
Pale and disconsolate of life,
By vagrant glance thrown wildly round,
Her lov'd lamented husband found,
And gathering all her children stood
To lure him from the field of blood:
His limbs the King in armour cas'd;
Their vaulting steeds the knights bestride,
And to the coast the army guide.
To the loud pipes the vallies rung,
The cliffs were cluster'd by the young;
The old at every cottage door
The boon of Victory implore;
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The high born dames their kerchiefs wave;
The cowled monks with lifted hands
Pray at their gates and bless the bands;
While hooded nuns the lattice throng,
To view the warriors wind along.
Sometimes as through the village way
Evolved the radiant long array,
The King with throbbing bosom felt
The kindness of his nature melt,
When some fond mother, scorning shame,
Her darling truant son would claim,
And strongly strive with strength and tears
To wrench him from his bold compeers;
Or if perchance an anxious wife,
Pale and disconsolate of life,
By vagrant glance thrown wildly round,
Her lov'd lamented husband found,
And gathering all her children stood
To lure him from the field of blood:
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‘Honour,’ he breath'd, ‘may rule the high,
‘That lapt in splendid plenty lie,
‘But potent Nature's earnest voice
‘Will often drown the trumpet's noise,
‘And strenuous Poverty controul
‘The scope of many a noble soul.’
‘That lapt in splendid plenty lie,
‘But potent Nature's earnest voice
‘Will often drown the trumpet's noise,
‘And strenuous Poverty controul
‘The scope of many a noble soul.’
The Evening's mild dishevel'd light
On purple peak and airy height
Fell softly, and the glassy seas,
Still duplicate of towers and trees,
O'er yellowed with the golden glow,
Enrich'd and rim'd the firth below;
When for the night, fatigued and worn,
The army resting till the morn,
Reposed on Renfrew's fertile side,
Beyond the Cart, and close by Clyde,
Where old Dunbriton's fortress hoar
Frowns darkly from the northern shore,
To guard from rifling foes serene,
The virgin Leven's sylvan scene.
On purple peak and airy height
Fell softly, and the glassy seas,
Still duplicate of towers and trees,
O'er yellowed with the golden glow,
Enrich'd and rim'd the firth below;
When for the night, fatigued and worn,
The army resting till the morn,
Reposed on Renfrew's fertile side,
Beyond the Cart, and close by Clyde,
Where old Dunbriton's fortress hoar
Frowns darkly from the northern shore,
To guard from rifling foes serene,
The virgin Leven's sylvan scene.
47
The kindling day consum'd the gloom,
And from the dawn's refulgent loom
The clouds of many mingling dies
Festooned the azure eastern skies,
When gay with hope and strength renew'd,
The Scottish bands their course pursu'd:
Along the coast part glittering file,
And part o'er shuddering moorlands toil,
While far the keen precursors glanc'd,
On ridgy Corlick high advanc'd,
Whose heathy brow with dazzling spears
Like some dark northern cloud appears,
Where restless streamers, steely bright,
Patrol the live-long winter night.
And from the dawn's refulgent loom
The clouds of many mingling dies
Festooned the azure eastern skies,
When gay with hope and strength renew'd,
The Scottish bands their course pursu'd:
Along the coast part glittering file,
And part o'er shuddering moorlands toil,
While far the keen precursors glanc'd,
On ridgy Corlick high advanc'd,
Whose heathy brow with dazzling spears
Like some dark northern cloud appears,
Where restless streamers, steely bright,
Patrol the live-long winter night.
'Twas when the sun his westering course,
With rays of mitigated force,
O'er the blue hills of Aran held,
That Hako's fleet was first unveil'd
In many a tier with pendants gay
Anchor'd in Largo's breezy bay,
Near to the thickly-tented strand,
Where rank'd the bold invaders stand,
All shining in the evening beams,
As down the opening vale the Scottish army streams.
With rays of mitigated force,
O'er the blue hills of Aran held,
That Hako's fleet was first unveil'd
In many a tier with pendants gay
Anchor'd in Largo's breezy bay,
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Where rank'd the bold invaders stand,
All shining in the evening beams,
As down the opening vale the Scottish army streams.
| The Battle of Largs | |