Till the blood tinge his plumage, so the heat Of his impeded soul would through his bosom eat. XVI. Self-exiled Harold wanders forth again, The very knowledge that he lived in vain, When mariners would madly meet their doom Did yet inspire a cheer, which he forbore to check. XVII. Stop! for thy tread is on an Empire's dust! And is this all the world has gain'd by thee, Thou first and last of fields! king-making Victory? XVIII. And Harold stands upon this place of skulls, XIX. Fit retribution! Gaul may champ the bit, And foam in fetters, but is Earth more free? Did nations combat to make One submit; Or league to teach all kings true sovereignty? What! shall reviving thraldom again be The patch'd-up idol of enlighten'd days? Shall we, who struck the Lion down, shall we Pay the Wolf homage? proffering lowly gaze And servile knees to thrones? No; prove before ye praise ! 1 "In pride of place" is a term of falconry, and means the highest pitch of flight. See Macbeth, etc. XX. If not, o'er one fall'n despot boast no more! In vain fair cheeks were furrow'd with hot tears For Europe's flowers long rooted up before The trampler of her vineyards; in vain years Of death, depopulation, bondage, fears, Have all been borne, and broken by the accord Of roused-up millions: all that most endears Glory, is when the myrtle wreathes a sword Such as Harmodius drew on Athens' tyrant lord. XXI. There was a sound of revelry by night, men; A thousand hearts beat happily; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage bell; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell! Or the car rattling o'er the stony street; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet. But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is — it is — the cannon's opening roar ! XXIII. Within a window'd niche of that high hall near, His heart more truly knew that peal too well Which stretch'd his father on a bloody bier, And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell : He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. XXIV. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blush'd at the praise of their own loveliness ; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated: who would guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise! XXV. And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war; And the deep thunder peal on peal afar: And near, the beat of the alarming drum Roused up the soldier ere the morning star: While throng'd the citizens with terror dumb, Or whispering, with white lips - The foe! They come! they come!" 66 XXVI. And wild and high the "Camerons' gathering" rose, The war-note of Lochiel, which Albyn's hills Have heard, and heard, too, have her Saxon foes: |