Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

Could save the land that fateful day,
And he was kept by Heaven away.
Its will be done; for well or woe,
We now must bend before the foe:
The Christian banner's in the toil,
The heathen riots in our spoil.

"I may be wrong, as grant I may;
But it is plain, that on that day
The storm hath all unequall'd been,
Such as no living man hath seen.

These are the signs of sinful deed,

And these are tokens that I dread.

The demons of the fiery reign

Have been abroad in Christ's domain,

Roused, by some powerful heathen spell,

From out the lurid vales of hell,

The face of earth and heaven to mar,

And hurl the elements in war.

"But-note me, youth-the time will come

That men shall stand, in terror dumb,

And see the Almighty's arm of power
Stretch'd forth in the avenging hour.
Yes, HE will shew to heaven, and hell,
And all that in the earth do dwell,
From babe, to prince upon the throne,
That HE is God, and HE alone!"—

But trust not all that prophets say; The best may err, and so may they. Predictions are but ticklish gear, Though specious, logical, and clear, Condensed, and penn'd in language strong,

Where once aright, they're ten times wrong. This sage experience hath me taught,

Whilst thou hast hooted, rail'd, and laugh'd. Alack! the credit due to seers,

Too well is known to my compeers!

Our travellers gain'd the farther shore
Of dark Loch-Ow, by dint of oar;
And there the tidings met their ear,
Of deeds of darkness, and of weir,

Which made the holy father weep,

And the rude boor to laugh, and leap,
And shout, with joy and clamour vast,
"M'Houston finds a home at last!

A vagrant outcast though he be,
This is the land he loves to see !"-

By Connel's tide they journey'd then, And met whole multitudes of men ; Some fleeing to the forest land,

Some guarding firm, with sword in hand, Each path, and ford, that lay between Their fierce invaders and their queen. For much had happ'd, that I must tell, And you must read, if you do well.

END OF BOOK THIRD.

QUEEN HYNDE.

BOOK FOURTH.

« ElőzőTovább »