Across the watery vale, and shout again, Responsive to his call, with quivering peals, And long halloos, and screams, and echoes loud Redoubled and redoubled; concourse wild Of jocund din! And, when there came a pause Of silence such as baffled his best skill, Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise Into the bosom of the steady lake. This boy was taken from his mates, and died In childhood, ere he was full twelve years old. Pre-eminent in beauty is the vale Where he was born and bred: the churchyard hangs Upon a slope above the village-school; And through that church-yard when my way has led On summer-evenings, I believe, that there A long half-hour together I have stood Mute looking at the grave in which he lies! 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, Honoured and blessed in their shadow might grow! Loud should Clan-Alpine then Ring from her deepmost glen, "Roderigh vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" CORONACH He is gone on the mountain, From the rain-drops shall borrow, But to us comes no cheering, To Duncan no morrow! The hand of the reaper Takes the ears that are hoary, Waft the leaves that are searest, Fleet foot on the correi, Sage counsel in cumber, How sound is thy slumber! Like the foam on the river, HARP OF THE NORTH, FAREWELL! HARP of the North, farewell! The hills grow dark, On purple peaks a deeper shade descending; In twilight copse the glow-worm lights her spark, The deer, half-seen, are to the covert wending. |