II. Song. "Not faster yonder rowers' might, 'Than men from memory erase The benefits of former days, Then, Stranger, go! good speed the while, celebrates in Irish verse the original of the tribe, the famous warlike actions of the successive heads, and sings his own lyricks as an opiate to the chief, when indisposed for sleep; but poets are not equally esteemed and honoured in all countries. I happened to be a witness of the dishonour done to the muse, at the house of one of the chiefs, where two of these bards were set at a good distance, at the lower end of a long table, with a parcel of Highlanders of no extraordinary appearance, over a cup of ale. Poor inspiration! They were not asked to drink a glass of wine at our table, though the whole company consisted only of the great man, one of his near relations, and myself. After some little time, the chief ordered one of them to sing me a Highland song. The bard readily obeyed, and with a hoarse voice, and in a tune of few various notes, began, as I was told, one of his own lyricks; and when he had proceeded to the fourth or fifth stanza, I perceived, by the names of several persons, glens, and mountains, which I had known or heard of before, that it was an account of some clan battle. But in his going on, the chief (who piques himself upon his school-learning) at some particular passage, bid him cease, and cried out, 'There's nothing like that in Virgil or Homer.' I bowed, and told him I believed so. This you may believe was very edifying and delightful."— Letters, ii. 167. "High place to thee in royal court, Good hawk and hound for sylvan sport, III. Song continued. "But if beneath yon southern sky "Or if on life's uncertain main If faithful, wise, and brave in vain, Beneath the fickle gale; Waste not a sigh on fortune changed, IV. As died the sounds upon the tide, The shallop reach'd the mainland side, And ere his onward way he took, His reverend brow was raised to heaven, V. Perchance the maiden smiled to see Show me the fair would scorn to spy, VI. While yet he loiter'd on the spot, On the smooth phrase of southern tongue; 'The ancient and powerful family of Graham (which, for me trical reasons, is here spelt after the Scottish pronunciation) held Scarce from her lip the word had rush'd, VII. The Minstrel waked his harp-three times And thrice their high heroic pride In melancholy murmurs died. 66 'Vainly thou bid'st, O noble maid," Clasping his wither'd hands, he said, "Vainly thou bid'st me wake the strain, Though all unwont to bid in vain. Alas! than mine a mightier hand Has tuned my harp, my strings has spaun'd! I touch the chords of joy, but low And mournful answer notes of woe; And the proud march, which victors tread, extensive possessions in the counties of Dumbarton and Stirling. Few families can boast of more historical renown, having claim to three of the most remarkable characters in the Scottish annals Sir John the Græme, the faithful and undaunted partaker of the labours and patriotic warfare of Wallace, fell in the unfortunate field of Falkirk, in 1298. The celebrated Marquis of Montrose in whom De Retz saw realized his abstract idea of the heroes of antiquity, was the second of these worthies. And, notwithstanding the severity of his temper, and the rigour with which he executed the oppressive mandates of the princes whom he served, I do not hesitate to name as a third, John Græme, of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, whose heroic death, in the arms of victory may be allowed to cancel the memory of his cruelty to the non conformists, during the reigns of Charles II. and James II. |