Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

Ixviii
ODE FOR THE NEW TEAE, 1787.
In rough magnificence array' d,
Wlieu ancient chivalry display' d
The pomp of her heroic games ;
And crested chiefs, and tissued dames,
Assembled, at the clarion's call.
In some proud castle's high-arch' d hall,
To grace romantic glory's genial rites :
Associate of the gorgeous festival.
The minstrel struck his kindred string,
And told of many a steel-clad king.
Who to the tourcey train' d his hardy knights ;
Or bore the radiant red-cross shield
'Mid the bold peers of Salem's field ;
"Who travers'd pagan climes, to quell
The wizard foe's terrific spell ;
In rude affrays untaught to fear
The Saracen's gigantic spear ;
The listening champions felt the fabling rhyme,
"With fau-y trappings fraught, and shook their plumes
sublime.
II.
Such were the themes of regal praise
Dear to the bard of elder days ;
The songs to savage virtue dear.
That won of yore the public ear !
Ere polity, sedate and sage,
Had quench' d the fires of feudal rage,
Had stemm'd the torrent of eternal strife,
And charm' d to rest an unrelenting age.
No more, in formidable state,
The castle shuts its ponderous gate ;
New colours suit the scenes of soften' d life ;