Blair Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

ALEXANDER MACDOXALD. 25
Our whole crew grew dull of hearing
In the tempest's scowl,
So sharp the quavering cries of demons
And the wild beasts' howl.
With oaken planks the weltering waves were wrestling
In their noisy splashing;
While the sharp beak of our swift ship
On the sea-pigs* came dashing.
The wind kept still renewing all its wildness
In the far west,
Till with every kind of strain and trouble
We were sore distress' d.
We were blinded with the water
Showering o'er us ever ;
And the awful night like thunder,
And the lightning ceasing never.
The bright fire-balls in our tackling
Flamed and smoked ;
With the smell of burning brimstone
We were well-nigh choked.
All the elements above, below.
Against us wrought ;
Earth and wind, and fire and water,
With us fought.
But when it defied the sea
To make us yield ;
At last, with one bright smile of pity,
Peace with us she seal'd.
But not before our yards were injured,
And our sails were rent,
Our poops were strained, our oars were weaken' d,
All our masts were bent.
Not a stay we had but started,
Our tackling all was wet and splashy.
Sea-pigs (muca-mara) are porpoises.