Light tilting o'er the frothy waves we flew, Of billows tumbling on the pebbled shore. When Toscar thus:-Dost thou not hear the strains With wonder seiz'd, I nearer drew to shore, When I both saw, and heard her thus deplore. "How long ye waters of the vast profound, "These rocks assaulting, will you foam around! "Remote from whistling woods, resounding caves, "And the hoarse thunder of the stormy waves; "Torthoma's daughter, in a palace bred, "Her youth midst scenes of royal splendor led. "Then "Then her soft voice, symphonious to the lyre, "Hath often at the banquet pleas'd her sire. "The youths enamour'd of her charms, express'd "Their admiration, and her beauty bless'd. "Yet, nor their sighs, nor ardent vows could move, "Her virgin heart, a stranger then to love; "Till Larthmor's graceful son, whose smooth address "No woman could reject, obtain'd access: "She saw, and thought him brighter than the sun; "She saw, admir'd, espous'd, and was undone ! "But what in Ninathoma could displease, "That he deserts her here amidst the seas? "Did she her tender hand for murder arm, "Or entertain'd her soul a thought to harm? "Why then, Oh Uthal! would'st thou cruel fly. "And leave her on this barren rock to die." Against the monster, who could act a part If injur'd or betray'd, the traitor name, Where Where Uthal reigns. He shall his faith renew, I said: without reply the royal dame, Again we sail'd, and just as dawning day Now from Finthorma, issuing to the plain, At At distance kept the nobles of the court, And well might they admire, had not the whole More gloomy than the shades which heaven deform, But unexpected, when in arms our force Before him rose, he, starting, check'd his course; When from all quarters, to secure the king, His people ran, and round him form'd a ri Then an old bard, commission'd by the rest, Came forward, and our party thus address'd. "Strangers, from whence? to this forbidden spre "Ill-fortune guides you to return no more. "For lazy vagrants we no feast prepare, "Nor forfeit lives of bold intruders spare. "If such, or as I guess from Selma's hall, "Black fate impends, and you must perish all. "Three from the rest select; these back may go, "To let Fingal th' unwelcome tidings know. Perhaps he will, with greater force invade; "But if he dares, he falls by Uthal's blade. "So, like a tree far shooting to the skies, "The glory of Finthorma's king shall rise." Incens'd at these unmanly taunts, I burn'd With filial zeal, and scornful thus return'd. "Fingal by Uthal fall!-He durst not stand "The terror of his eye, much less his hand. "The king of hills, in arms a mighty name! "Has not an equal on the rolls of fame: 66 For, first in valour, as in royal birth, "He awes the scepter'd rulers of the earth, "Who, when his fury's rous'd, his presence fly, "As storms disperse, and leave a cloudless sky, Abhorring wrongs, he sends us to pull down "Th' unjust usurper of his father's crown: "And fail or not in the attempt, will claim "The meed of virtuous deeds, a deathless name." 66 This said, I stood to meet the war prepar'd, And Toscar at my side his faulchion bar'd. Swift as a stream, in close array combin'd, Advanc'd the foe; and now in fight we join'd: Man against man, with rage impetuous drove, Shields loud encounter shields; swords flash above, And meeting clang: thick in an iron show'r, From either host the darts incessant pour: A grating jar, riv'n helms and corslets yield, And hewn to pieces, strew the sanguine field. As roar a thousand ghosts, that down the sky, Borne on the winds of night, tempestuous fly; Lash the deep groaning oaks, nor cease to blow, Till stretch'd in ruins, half the wood lies low. Such was the bloody conflict's deaf'ning sound, And such th' immense destruction dealt around. |