History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

Poems on or About the MacLeans.
425
Their limbs were free in nature's leather,
As Greeks rejoiced their gods to mold ;
The Phrygian cap with eagle's feather
Adorned the head and braved the cold.
The kilt! the tunic of the Roman !
The plaid, the drapery of the Greek!
When were such sons of mortal woman.
Whose very dress had tongues to speak?
Heroic men in vain one preaches —
The prosy race of moderns find
'Tis decenter to wear the breeches,
A tile, and coat with tails behind.
But fancy Stafia's glorious columns
Draped with the creepers of Sulu!
A Highlander In what d'ye call ems.
The things his fathers never knew.
But never mind, you'll always find him
As warm in heart as leal in bone —
He graced tlie kilt he leaves behind him,
He honors what he now puts on.
They leave the land of sombre beauty
Of mountains, rock and sandj' shore.
But full of love, of faith, and duty.
Where ere they go they love it more.
Dear land, tho' o'er thy hills, the lieaven
May lack Morea's lustrous skies
To thee a freedom has been given
Which in yon dazzling climate dies.
As these gray hills of rock and heather
Draw down the clouls in misty rain,
So draw them by a mystic tether.
The exiled Highland heart again.
Their memory warms at old tradition
Of Mull, and Coll, and dark Lismore,
Old Fingal deeds, Columba's mission.
The Duard towns, and Arcs shore.
How proud are they of clannish tartan !
How dear to them the bonnet blue!
The Gaels' descendants set their heart on
The colors of their fathers true.
In later, as in older story
Of battle-field, the Clan MacLean
Has borne a greater share of glory
Than tamer races of the plain.
Schooled as of old the warrior Spartan,
To live and die for home and fame,
With steel, in blood, these men in tartan
On honor's shield have graved a name.
In .war, MacLean is brave in battle !
In peace, a credit to his clan !
In office, trade, or feeding cattle,
In love, or friendship, he's your man.
Then blow the pibroch o'er the waters
We'll dance a reel with might and main,
Long live the name, the sons, and daughters.
At home, abroad, of Clan MacLean !
No. 20. — Courtship of Hector MacLean.
By William Allan.
[William Allan was bora in Dunilee in 1837. He resides in Sunderland, England. He has published
two volumes of poetry. The following poem was originally published in the Celtic Magazine, entitled the
" Doom of Dunolly." It is here taken from his volume of poems entitled Rose and TMsllc. In sending
permission to insert the poem with accompanying cut, Mr. Allan also added; "I had no direct founda-
tion for the plot. Being at Oban one summer for a holiday, I was one day lying amid the ruins of Dunolly
Castle, musing on the departed glory of the MacDougalls. Duard Castle loomed away in the distance on
the Mull shore: so I mentally planned the poem, and worked it out as you have it.]
I. The past I shall cherish.
My love can not perish.
Maid of Dunolly, oh! why did we love?
The wrath of thy father
Is winter's coid breath,
Around me fast gather
Weird visions of death ;
Soul of my dreamings! thy home is above.
Come drooping floweret, Ive dared thy brave
kinsmen,
Come lonely dove to thy warrior true ;
Shadow of heaven ! and pride of thy clansmen,
My heart goes to thee in my lingering adieu!
The night clouds are falling,
The curlew is calling.
Maid of Dunolly I come unto thee !
The grey mists are sleeping
On Cruachan Ben,
The red deer are keeping
Their watch in the glen —
Light of my darkness, come ! come unto me ;
Come, gentle spirit I we part and forever,
Come, my lone star, see ! my skiflf's in the bay ;
Sunbeam of morning, alas ! we must sever,
Maid of Dunolly ! we part, and for aye.