Long may the tree, in his banner that glances, Earth lend it sap anew, Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, While every Highland glen Sends our shout back agen, 'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe! Ours is no sapling, chance-sown by the fountain, When the whirlwind has stripp'd every leaf on the mountain, The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade. Proof to the tempest's shock, Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow; Besides his ordinary name and surname, which were chiefly used in the intercourse with the Lowlands, every Highland chief had an epithet expressive of his patriarchal dignity as head of the clan, and which was common to all his predecessors and successors, as Pharaoh to the kings of Egypt, or Arsaces to those of Parthia. This name was usually a patronymic, expressive of his descent from the founder of the family. Thus the Duke of Argyle is called Mac-Callum More, or the son of Colin the Great. Sometimes, however, it is derived from armorial distinctions, or the memory of some great feat; thus Lord Seaforth, as chief of the Mackenzies, or Clan-Kennet, bears the epithet of Caber-fae, or Buck's Head, as representative of Colin Fitzgerald, founder of the family, who saved the Scottish king, when endangered by a stag. But besides this title, which belonged to his office and dignity, the chieftain had usually another peculiar to himself, which Menteith and Breadalbane, then, Echo his praise agen, Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" XX. Proudly our pibroch has thrill'd in Glen Fruin, Long shall lament our raid, Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe; Shake when they hear agen, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" Row, vassals, row, for the pride of the Highlands! distinguished him from the chieftains of the same race. This was sometimes derived from complexion, as dhu or roy; sometimes from size, as beg or more; at other times, from some peculiar exploit, or from some peculiarity of habit or appearance. The line of the text therefore signifies, Black Roderick, the descendant of Alpine. The song itself is intended as an imitation of the jorrams, or boat songs, of the Highlanders, which were usually composed in honour of a favourite chief. They are so adapted as to keep time with the sweep of the oars, and it easy to distinguish between those intended to be sung to the oars of a galley, where the stroke is lengthened and doubled, as it were, and those which were timed to the rowers of an ordinary boat. [See Appendix, Note E.} Stretch to your oars, for the ever-green Pine! O! that the rose-bud that graces yon islands, Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine! O that some seedling gem, Worthy such noble stem, Honour'd and bless'd in their shadow might grow! Loud should Clan-Alpine then Ring from her deepmost glen, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" XXI. With all her joyful female band, The Dame called Ellen to the strand, 2 ["However we may dislike the geographical song and chorus, half English and half Erse, which is sung in praise of the warrior, we must allow that, in other respects, the hero of a poem has seldom, if ever, been introduced with finer effect, or in a manner better calculated to excite the expectations of the reader, than on the present occasion."-Critical Review.] 2 [MS.-"The chorus to the chieftain's fame." ] 66 Come, loiterer, come! a Douglas thou, Be ours," she cried, "the skiff to guide, And, eagerly while Roderick scann'd, And she had landed in the bay. XXII. Some feelings are to mortals given, From passion's dross refined and clear, 1 Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue' No! not till Douglas named his name, XXIII. Allan, with wistful look the while, Then gazed upon the Chieftain's pride, [MS. Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue |