Ossian Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

DUNCAN BAN MACINTYRE. 81
In that belief content I live,
Though fax- from rich I be,
For George's daughter* still will give,
I hope, my bread to me.
And yesterday I trod yon moor —
How many a thought it moved!
The friends I walked with there of yore —
Where were those friends I loved !
I looked and looked, and sheep, sheep still
Were all that I could see :
A change had struck the very hill —
world ! deceiving me.
As I turned round from side to side,
Oh dear ! I felt not gay ;
The heather's bloom, the greenwood's pride,
The old men were away :
There was not left one antlered stag.
There was not left a roe ;
No bird to fill the hunter's bag —
Such old things — all must go.
Then wild heath forest, fare-you-well,
Ye wonderful bright hills;
Farewell sweet spring and gTassy dell —
Farewell the running rills, —
Farewell vast deserts, mountains grand,
With peaks the clouds that sever ;
Scenes of past pleasures pure and bland —
Farewell, farewell for ever !
* "George's daughter" was the musket M-hich he carried iu Kin
George's name, as a member of the city-guard. The gun which he used
among the hills he called, "Nic Coiseam," or "Coiseam'.'^ daughter." He
composed a characteristic song to both these weapons.