Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight By Charles Mackay |
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| C. | C. ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
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 | Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight |  |
133
C. ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
[_]
[The name of the heroic piper whose deed is here recorded, and whom I knew in my early youth, was, if I remember rightly, John Clark. The incident occurred at the battle of Vittoria, 1813.]
A Highland piper, shot through both his feet,
Lay on the ground in agonizing pain,
The cry was raised, “The Highlanders retreat—
They run! they fly! they rally not again!”
The piper heard, and rising on his arm,
Clutched to his heart the pipes he loved so well,
And blew a blast—a dirge-like shrill alarm,
That quickly changed to the all-jubilant swell
Of Tullochgorum. Swift as lightning flash,
Or fire in stubble, the tumultuous sound
Thrilled through the clansmen's hearts, and with a dash
Of unreflecting valour, at one bound
They turned upon their hot pursuing foes,
And faced them with one wild tempestuous cheer,
That almost drowned the music, as it rofe
Defiant o'er the field, loud, long, and clear!
Lay on the ground in agonizing pain,
The cry was raised, “The Highlanders retreat—
They run! they fly! they rally not again!”
The piper heard, and rising on his arm,
Clutched to his heart the pipes he loved so well,
And blew a blast—a dirge-like shrill alarm,
That quickly changed to the all-jubilant swell
Of Tullochgorum. Swift as lightning flash,
Or fire in stubble, the tumultuous sound
Thrilled through the clansmen's hearts, and with a dash
Of unreflecting valour, at one bound
They turned upon their hot pursuing foes,
And faced them with one wild tempestuous cheer,
That almost drowned the music, as it rofe
Defiant o'er the field, loud, long, and clear!
Scotland was in it, and the days of old,
When, to the well-remembered pibrochs of their hills,
They danced the exultant reel on hill-sides cold,
Or warmed their hearts with patriotic fires.
The startled enemy, in sudden dread,
Staggered and paused, then, pale with terror, fled!
The clansmen followed;—hurling shout on shout
In martial madness on the hopeless rout.
'Twas but five minutes ere the set of sun,
And ere it sank the victory was won!
Glory and honour, all that men can crave,
Be thine, O Piper, bravest of the brave!
When, to the well-remembered pibrochs of their hills,
134
Or warmed their hearts with patriotic fires.
The startled enemy, in sudden dread,
Staggered and paused, then, pale with terror, fled!
The clansmen followed;—hurling shout on shout
In martial madness on the hopeless rout.
'Twas but five minutes ere the set of sun,
And ere it sank the victory was won!
Glory and honour, all that men can crave,
Be thine, O Piper, bravest of the brave!
| Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight | |