It is decreed that thou must likewise fade, Ye winds, disperse the clouds which veil the sky, } With Ardan, beam of youth, the stormy tide; What other lovely form is at their side? The dark surrounding shades her beauties hide; It is Dar-thula with the radient eyes, The The land, far stretching to the northern deep, When thus on hostile shores my friends were cast, No marvel, that a youth abroad admir'd For arms and arts, Dar-thula's bosom fir'd. Fresh as the dawn of day appear'd his bloom, His locks were glossy as the raven's plume; The sun, when ev'ning breathes a gentle air, Did not in mildness with his soul compare; Not waters gliding smooth through Lora's vale, Or reeds low sighing to a southern gale, Could match the tuneful accents of his tongue, On which the charms of elocution hung. But when embattled, to dispute the day, Two armies mov'd, wedg'd firm in close array, He rush'd to combat, roaring like the sea— Flash'd from afar his shield, and struck with fright, The vanquish'd nations headlong urg'd their flight. 'Twas thus caparison'd, and bright in arms, Dar-thula first beheld his youthful charms, From high Selama's moss-encrusted tow'rs; When he to succour Cormac led his pow'rs. The virgin saw, and in these words express'd The soft emotions throbbing at her breast. "What lovely stranger yonder treads the green, "Of princely carriage and undaunted mien ! "Contemning death, he rushes to the fight, "And to an army dares, oppose his might. "Youth of the ruddy look, thy wrath restrain, "Fierce Cairbar comes with thousands in his train. "Oh! that from that detested suitor freed, "Thee for my future Lord the fates decreed. "Blest, Etha! are thy rocks, and blest the earth "Which gave to such transcendent beauty birth! "There issues early to the mountain chase "That stately form, that miracle of grace; "The snowy whiteness of his bosom bare, "And dancing to the wind his raven hair.” So spake the maid from steep Selama's height; * Are "Are these the rocks of Nathos I descry, "Or these thy streams, says she, that gush from high? "And faint and distant seems the quiv'ring light. Say why these frequent sighs? Does latent grief "Afflict the manly soul of Etha's Chief? "Is he cast down, because the northern wind "Has on a foreign shore his sails confin'd?" As you surmise, fair maid, the stormy force Of adverse winds have drove us from our course. Those are not Nathos' rocks thou see'st before, Nor those his mountain streams that sound on shore; No cheering blaze from Etha's halls is seen, They hence lie far, with oceans vast between. We are on Ullin's coast, the hostile land, Where cruel Cairbar holds supreme command. Haste Althos, tow'rds the north the bay explore, While Ardan westward winds along the shore: Myself will trace the narrow path which leads To yonder turret, whence that light proceeds. Mean time here rest thou lovely beam, nor fear, For Nathos' sword to guard thee shall be near. The The warrior said, and hasten'd swift away,The virgin, lonely left beside the sea, Long waited his return, with eager look Still anxious first upon the road he took: She wrung her hands, and spoke aloud her fears. "While howling tempests chill my soul with fright, "I trembling sit-what can the youth detain? "He scorns the tyrant and his num'rous train: "And much I fear, surrounded by the foe "O'er match'd he fights, and now perhaps lies low." While she laments him thus, as really lost, Whose ghost, that night upon the winds abroad, More large than life the shadowy form drew near, His eyes terrific shot a ruddy flame, The stars dim twinkled through his airy frame: To warn him of his state, the warrior knew The apparition sent, and sad withdrew; Not |