Lyrics & Ballads (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ...to narrate This ancient tale of woe, And showeth where the gipsy sate And sang her brooding song of fate, Beside old Clachnacoe. Engulf'd a shallop may have been Near to the Maiden Isle, But when drink muddles Celtic een It needs no spaewife's song, I ween, Their senses to beguile. Old Esop of a Frog doth tell, Who wasted all his energies. That he might other Frogs excel, And match the Ox in weight and size. So Superstition facts doth swell Till pigmies grow to prodigies; So potent is her mighty spell That nought is truth save dreams and lies. Now mark what to this Frog befell--He burst before the Froglings' eyes; But Superstition dark and fell Thrives most on what she magnifies. She maketh earth a hideous hell, Replete with monstrous fantasies; Her carnival is Reason's knell--She revels 'mid his obsequies. XI. BEN CRUACHAN. Farewell, Mull, Lismore, and Morven; Turn we where at east by north, Distant sixteen miles or more, Ben Cruachan stands boldly forth. Further back than history reaches Cruachan has brav'd the storm; Listen to his grumbling speeches, Look upon his giant form. 1. Near the Pass of Awe I'm standing--Solemn, gloomy, cold, austere--Like a sentinel demanding Passwords with a frown severe. But no one my challenge cares for, Stage-coaches run round my base, Where the guard exacteth fares for Pleasant trips on summer days. Frail and old now no one loves me, Though by thousand tempests torn; Sad reverse of fortune moves me, Modern times I hold in scorn. Empires fall, and I am fallen From my ancient regal state; Round me now are church and hallen Built of stone and roof'd with slate. Zephyrs sighing, tempests howling, Scorching sunbeams, mantling snows, Flashing lightnings, storm-clouds scowling, Ne'er disturb my deep repose; But eternal hunting, f...