And soon on Arran's shore shall meet,

With Torquil's aid, a gallant fleet,
If aught avails their Chieftain's hest

Among the Islesmen of the west."

VI.

Thus was their venturous council said.
But, ere their sails the galleys spread,
Coriskin dark and Coolin high
Echoed the dirge's doleful cry.
Along that sable lake pass'd slow,
Fit scene for such a sight of woe,—
The sorrowing islesmen, as they bore
The murder'd Allan to the shore.
At every pause, with dismal shout,
Their coronach of grief rung out,
And ever, when they moved again,
The pipes resumed their clamorous strain,
And, with the pibroch's shrilling wail,
Mourn'd the young heir of Donagaile.

Round and around, from cliff and cave,

His answer stern old Coolin gave,
Till high upon his misty side

Languish'd the mournful notes, and died.
For never sounds, by mortal made,
Attain'd his high and hagard head,
That echoes but the tempest's moan,
Or the deep thunder's rending groan.

VII.

Merrily, merrily, bounds the bark,
She bounds before the gale,

The mountain breeze from Ben-na-darch
Is joyous in her sail!

With fluttering sound like laughter hoarse,

The cords and canvass strain,

The waves, divided by her force,

In rippling eddies chased her course,
As if they laugh'd again.

Not down the breeze more blithely flew,

Skimming the wave, the light sea-mew,

Than the gay galley bore

Her course upon that favouring wind,
And Coolin's crest has sunk behind,

And Slapin's cavern'd shore.

'Twas then that warlike signals wake Dunscaith's dark towers and Eisord's lake, And soon from Cavilgarrigh's head,

Thick wreaths of eddying smoke were spread;

A summons these of war and wrath

To the brave clans of Sleat and Strath,

And, ready at the sight,

Each warrior to his weapons sprung,
And targe upon his shoulder flung,

Impatient for the fight.

Mac-Kinnon's chief, in warfare grey,

Had charge to muster their array,

And guide their barks to Brodick-Bay.

VIII.

Signal of Ronald's high command,

A beacon gleam'd o'er sea and land,
From Canna's tower, that, steep and grey,
Like falcon-nest o'erhangs the bay.

Seek not the giddy crag to climb,
To view the turret scathed by time;
It is a task of doubt and fear

To aught but goat or mountain-deer.
But rest thee on the silver beach,
And let the aged herdsman teach
His tale of former day;

His cur's wild clamour he shall chide,

And for thy seat by ocean's side,

His varied plaid display ;

Then tell, how with their Chieftain came,

In ancient times, a foreign dame

To yonder turret grey.

Stern was her Lord's suspicious mind,

Who in so rude a jail confined

So soft and fair a thrall!

And oft when moon on ocean slept,

That lovely lady sate and wept

Upon the castle-wall,

And turn'd her eye to southern climes,
And thought perchance of happier times,
And touch'd her lute by fits, and sung
Wild ditties in her native tongue.

And still, when on the cliff and bay

Placid and pale the moonbeams play,

And every breeze is mute,

Upon the lone Hebridean's ear

Steals a strange pleasure mix'd with fear,

While from that cliff he seems to hear

The murmur of a lute,

And sounds, as of a captive lone,

That mourns her woes in tongue unknown.