Nearer and nearer as they bear, Spear, pikes, and axes flash in air. As, rushing through the lake amain, They plied the ancient Highland strain. XVII. Ever, as on they bore, more loud And, lingering long by cape and bay, Then bursting bolder on the ear, The clan's shrill Gathering they could hear; 1 The pipe of the bagpipe. 2 The connoisseurs in pipe music affect to discover in a well-composed pibroch, the imitative sounds of march, conflict, fight, pursuit, and all the "current of a heady fight." Thick beat the rapid notes, as when The batter'd earth returns their tread; Then prelude light, of livelier tone, With mingled outcry, shrieks, and blows ; To this opinion Dr. Beattie has given his suffrage, in the following elegant passage: 66 A pibroch is a species of tune, peculiar, I think, to the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. It is performed on a bagpipe, and differs totally from all other music. Its rhythm is so irregular, and its notes, especially in the quick movement, so mixed and huddled together, that a stranger finds it impossible to reconcile his car to it, so as to perceive its modulation. Some of these pibrochs, being intended to represent a battle, begin with a grave motion resembling a march; then gradually quicken into the onset; run off with noisy confusion, and turbulent rapidity, to imitate the conflict and pursuit; then swell into a few flourishes of triumphant joy, and perhaps close with the wild and slow wailings of a funeral procession."-Essay on Laughter and Ludicrous Composition, chap. iii. Note. Nor ended thus the strain; but slow Sunk in a moan prolong'd and low, And changed the conquering clarion swell, XVIII. The war-pipes ceased; but lake and hill XIX. BOAT SONG. Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances! Earth lend it sap anew, Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, Send our shout back agen, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe! "1 1 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 Caberfae, 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 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 jorrums, 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 is 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 Ours is no sapling, chance-sown by the fountain, Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade; When the whirlwind has stripp'd every leaf on the mountain, The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade. Moor'd in the rifted rock, Proof to the tempest's shock, Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow; "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" ΧΧ. Proudly our pibroch has thrill'd in Glen Fruin, And Bannachar's groans to our slogan replied; Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, they are smoking in ruin, And the best of Loch-Lomond lie dead on her side.1 Widow and Saxon maid Long shall lament our raid, Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe; Lennox and Leven-glen Shake when they hear again, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" Row, vassals, row for the pride of the Highlands 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! 1 [See Appendix, Note E.] |