J. F. Campbell Collection > Works of the Caledonian bards

M O R D- U T H. (j^
are thine. No traveller fliuns thy dwelling *
in the feafon of the moon. Often doeft thou
raife thy fhrill voice on thy rocks, and warn the
mariner of the coming ftorm f. He hears the
unerring found, and retires within the peace-
ful bofom of the ercek. In fafety he views^
the
* It was only the ghofts of thofe who had been guilty^
of fomc crime in their lifetime, that were fuppofed to wan-
der and attack the nightly traveller. The punifhment of
fuch crimes was thought to confift in wandering near their
graves, till they met with one whom they fought, and
compelled to caake reftitaiion to the perfons or their de-
fendants, whom they had injured in their lifetime; after
which, it was thought they were permitted to fleep irv
peace. — This notion, if not more rational, was at leafl:
more agreeable to the minds of men, than thofe af a puree,
religion.
f Storms frequendy rage with great ftiry at fea, while-
it is pcrfe<n:ly calm on the land, before the arrival of the
winds which occafion them. Thefe violent agitations ia
the ocean, caufe the waves to roar with fuch fury on the
rocks, that they are heard at the diftance of feveral miles.^
Experience has taught the inhabitants on the coaftto know,
by this noife, that the ftorm is coming, fome time before
it arrives. The antients were of opinion, that this was.
cccafioned by the ghofts of thofe who had been drowned»,
who were confidcred as monitors to warn men of ag-
proaching uanger.
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