Ossian Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

¥M ANCIENT GAELIC BARDS'.
Now marrow to my bones 't will bring
To hear the string, the horn, the hound.
When loud, "The stag is down," they sing,
I '11 leap to hear the darling sound.
My dog, I '11 see him in that mood
Who late and early follow'd me.
And our dear hilly solitude
And crags that heard my bugle's glee.
And I shall see the welcome cave,
That saved us from the darkening night :
Its flickering flame shall wane and wave —
Its quaichs once more shall give delight.
The sweet deer-flesh we '11 roast it well ;
Treig's singing brook our thirst allay;
Though mountains roar and ghosts should yell^
We '11 calmly rest us there till day.
Then high Ben-Ard his form will rear —
Chief of a thousand hills is he —
His locks, where dream the antler'd deer.
His head, where sleep the clouds, we'll see.
Sgor-eilt looks o'er the valley's brow,
AVlience first the cuckoo's music flows;
The hill where thousand fir-trees grow.
And gi-een herbs for the elks and roes.
Tlie young ducks cheerily skim the pool,
Round which the fir-trees wave their heads.
And toss their green arms beautiful,
Above the ripening rowans red.
With snowy breast the swan comes nig^li.
And crests the waves with graceful pride ;