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ALEXANDER MACDONALD. 25
Our whole crew grew dull of hearing
lu 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 tackhng all was wet and splashy,
• Sea-pigs (muca-mara) are porpoises.
Our whole crew grew dull of hearing
lu 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 tackhng all was wet and splashy,
• Sea-pigs (muca-mara) are porpoises.
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Early Gaelic Book Collections > Ossian Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards > (49) |
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/78070161 |
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Description | Selected books from the Ossian Collection of 327 volumes, originally assembled by J. Norman Methven of Perth. Different editions and translations of James MacPherson's epic poem 'Ossian', some with a map of the 'Kingdom of Connor'. Also secondary material relating to Ossianic poetry and the Ossian controversy. |
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Description | Selected items from five 'Special and Named Printed Collections'. Includes books in Gaelic and other Celtic languages, works about the Gaels, their languages, literature, culture and history. |
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