第 6 节
作者:
曾氏六合网 更新:2021-02-27 01:39 字数:9322
ow might you see the tartars brave; And plaids and plumage dance and wave: Now see the bonnets sink and rise; As his tough oar the rower plies; See; flashing at each sturdy stroke; The wave ascending into smoke; See the proud pipers on the bow; And mark the gaudy streamers flow From their loud chanters down; and sweep The furrowed bosom of the deep; As; rushing through the lake amain; They plied the ancient Highland strain。
XVII。
Ever; as on they bore; more loud And louder rung the pibroch proud。 At first the sounds; by distance tame; Mellowed along the waters came; And; lingering long by cape and bay; Wailed every harsher note away; Then bursting bolder on the ear; The clan's shrill Gathering they could hear; Those thrilling sounds that call the might Of old Clan…Alpine to the fight。 Thick beat the rapid notes; as when The mustering hundreds shake the glen; And hurrying at the signal dread; 'Fine battered earth returns their tread。 Then prelude light; of livelier tone; Expressed their merry marching on; Ere peal of closing battle rose; With mingled outcry; shrieks; and blows; And mimic din of stroke and ward; As broadsword upon target jarred; And groaning pause; ere yet again; Condensed; the battle yelled amain: The rapid charge; the rallying shout; Retreat borne headlong into rout; And bursts of triumph; to declare Clan…Alpine's congestall were there。 Nor ended thus the strain; but slow Sunk in a moan prolonged and low; And changed the conquering clarion swell For wild lament o'er those that fell。
XVIII。
The war…pipes ceased; but lake and hill Were busy with their echoes still; And; when they slept; a vocal strain Bade their hoarse chorus wake again; While loud a hundred clansmen raise Their voices in their Chieftain's praise。 Each boatman; bending to his oar; With measured sweep the burden bore; In such wild cadence as the breeze Makes through December's leafless trees。 The chorus first could Allan know; 'Roderick Vich Alpine; ho! fro!' And near; and nearer as they rowed; Distinct the martial ditty flowed。
XIX。
Boat Song
Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances! Honored and blessed be the ever…green Pine! Long may the tree; in his banner that glances; Flourish; the shelter and grace of our line! Heaven send it happy dew; Earth lend it sap anew; Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to grow; While every Highland glen Sends our shout back again; 'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu;; ho! ieroe!'
Ours is no sapling; chance…sown by the fountain;
Blooming at Beltane; in winter to fade; When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain; The more shall Clan…Alpine exult in her shade。 Moored in the rifted rock; Proof to the tempest's shock; Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow; Menteith and Breadalbane; then; Echo his praise again; 'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu; ho! ieroe!'
XX。
Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin; And Bannochar's groans to our slogan replied ; Glen Luss and Ross…dhu; they are smoking in ruin; And the best of Loch Lomond lie dead on her side。 Widow and Saxon maid Long shall lament our raid; Think of Clan…Alpine with fear and with woe; Lennox and Leven…glen Shake when they hear again; 'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu; ho! ieroe!'
Row; vassals; row; for the pride of the Highlands! Stretch to your oars for the ever…green Pine! O that the rosebud that graces yon islands Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine! O that some seedling gem; Worthy such noble stem; Honored and blessed in their shadow might grow! Loud should Clan…Alpine then Ring from her deepmost glen; Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu; ho! ieroe!'
XXI。
With all her joyful female band Had Lady Margaret sought the strand。 Loose on the breeze their tresses flew; And high their snowy arms they threw; As echoing back with shrill acclaim; And chorus wild; the Chieftain's name; While; prompt to please; with mother's art The darling passion of his heart; The Dame called Ellen to the strand; To greet her kinsman ere he land: 'Come; loiterer; come! a Douglas thou; And shun to wreathe a victor's brow?' Reluctantly and slow; the maid The unwelcome summoning obeyed; And when a distant bugle rung; In the mid…path aside she sprung: 'List; Allan…bane! From mainland cast I hear my father's signal blast。 Be ours;' she cried; ' the skiff to guide; And waft him from the mountain…side。' Then; like a sunbeam; swift and bright; She darted to her shallop light; And; eagerly while Roderick scanned; For her dear form; his mother's band; The islet far behind her lay; And she had landed in the bay。
XXII。
Some feelings are to mortals given With less of earth in them than heaven; And if there be a human tear From passion's dross refined and clear; A tear so limpid and so meek It would not stain an angel's cheek; 'Tis that which pious fathers shed Upon a duteous daughter's head! And as the Douglas to his breast His darling Ellen closely pressed; Such holy drops her tresses steeped; Though 't was an hero's eye that weeped。 Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue Her filial welcomes crowded hung; Marked she that fearaffection's proof Still held a graceful youth aloof; No! not till Douglas named his name; Although the youth was Malcolm Graeme。
XXIII。
Allan; with wistful look the while; Marked Roderick landing on the isle; His master piteously he eyed; Then gazed upon the Chieftain's pride; Then dashed with hasty hand away From his dimmed eye the gathering spray; And Douglas; as his hand he laid On Malcolm's shoulder; kindly said: 'Canst thou; young friend; no meaning spy In my poor follower's glistening eye? I 'll tell thee:he recalls the day When in my praise he led the lay O'er the arched gate of Bothwell proud; While many a minstrel answered loud; When Percy's Norman pennon; won In bloody field; before me shone; And twice ten knights; the least a name As mighty as yon Chief may claim; Gracing my pomp; behind me came。 Yet trust me; Malcolm; not so proud Was I of all that marshalled crowd; Though the waned crescent owned my might; And in my train trooped lord and knight; Though Blantyre hymned her holiest lays; And Bothwell's bards flung back my praise; As when this old man's silent tear; And this poor maid's affection dear; A welcome give more kind and true Than aught my better fortunes knew。 Forgive; my friend; a father's boast; O; it out…beggars all I lost!'
XXIV。
Delightful praise!like summer rose; That brighter in the dew…drop glows; The bashful maiden's cheek appeared; For Douglas spoke; and Malcolm heard。 The flush of shame…faced joy to hide; The hounds; the hawk; her cares divide; The loved caresses of the maid The dogs with crouch and whimper paid; And; at her whistle; on her hand The falcon took his favorite stand; Closed his dark wing; relaxed his eye; Nor; though unhooded; sought to fly。 And; trust; while in such guise she stood; Like fabled Goddess of the wood; That if a father's partial thought O'erweighed her worth and beauty aught; Well might the lover's judgment fail To balance with a juster scale; For with each secret glance he stole; The fond enthusiast sent his soul。
XXV。
Of stature fair; and slender frame; But firmly knit; was Malcolm Graeme。 The belted plaid and tartan hose Did ne'er more graceful limbs disclose; His flaxen hair; of sunny hue; Curled closely round his bonnet blue。 Trained to the chase; his eagle eye The ptarmigan in snow could spy; Each pass; by mountain; lake; and heath; He knew; through Lennox and Menteith; Vain was the bound of dark… brown doe When Malcolm bent his sounding bow; And scarce that doe; though winged with fear; Outstripped in speed the mountaineer: Right up Ben Lomond could he press; And not a sob his toil confess。 His form accorded with a mind Lively and ardent; frank and kind; A blither heart; till Ellen came Did never love nor sorrow tame; It danced as lightsome in his breast As played the feather on his crest。 Yet friends; who nearest knew the youth His scorn of wrong; his zeal for truth And bards; who saw his features bold When kindled by the tales of old Said; were that youth to manhood grown; Not long should Roderick Dhu's renown Be foremost voiced by mountain fame; But quail to that of Malcolm Graeme。
XXVI。
Now back they wend their watery way; And; 'O my sire!' did Ellen say; 'Why urge thy chase so far astray? And why so late returned? And why ' The rest was in her speaking eye。 'My child; the chase I follow far; 'Tis mimicry of noble war; And with that gallant pastime reft Were all of Douglas I have left。 I met young Malcolm as I strayed Far eastward; in Glenfinlas' shade Nor strayed I safe; for all around Hunters and horsemen scoured the ground。 This youth; though still a royal ward; Risked life and land to be my guard; And through the passes of the wood Guided my steps; not unpursued; And Roderick shall his welcome make; Despite old spleen; for Doug