I'll listen, till my fancy hears The clang of swords, the crash of spears! And my free spirit burst away, As if it soar'd from battle fray.' But soon remembrance of the sight As shallop launch'd on river's tide, But, when it feels the middle stream, Canto VI The Guard room XV BATTLE OF BEAL' AN DUINE 'The Minstrel came once more to view The eastern ridge of Benvenue, For, ere he parted, he would say Upon her eyry nods the erne, The deer has sought the brake; Canto VI The Guard room The small birds will not sing aloud, Is it the thunder's solemn sound -I see the dagger-crest of Mar, I see the Moray's silver star, Wave o'er the cloud of Saxon war, That up the lake comes winding far! Or bard of martial lay, 'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life, One glance at their array! XVI 'Their light-arm'd archers far and near Their centre ranks, with pike and spear, Their barbed horsemen, in the rear, The stern battalia crown'd. No cymbal clash'd, no clarion rang, Still were the pipe and drum ; Save heavy tread, and armour's clang, The sullen march was dumb. Canto VI The There breathed no wind their crests to shake, Guard Or wave their flags abroad; Scarce the frail aspen seem'd to quake, That shadow'd o'er their road. Their vanward scouts no tidings bring, Can rouse no lurking foe, Nor spy a trace of living thing, The lake is pass'd, and now they gain room XVII 'At once there rose so wild a yell Forth from the pass in tumult driven, The archery appear: For life! for life! their plight they ply- Canto VI The Guard room And plaids and bonnets waving high, Before that tide of flight and chase, The spearmen's twilight wood?— Like reeds before the tempest's frown, And closely shouldering side to side, They come as fleet as forest deer, XVIII 'Bearing before them, in their course, Like wave with crest of sparkling foam, Above the tide, each broadsword bright And with the ocean's mighty swing, |