The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume Iv Part 12

Imlah was a person of amiable dispositions and agreeable manners. Of his numerous lyrics, each is distinguished by a rich fancy, and several of his songs will maintain a lasting place in the national minstrelsy.

KATHLEEN.

AIR--_"The Humours of Glen."_

O distant but dear is that sweet island, wherein My hopes with my Kathleen and kindred abide; And far though I wander from thee, emerald Erin!

No s.p.a.ce can the links of my love-chain divide.

Fairest spot of the earth! brightest gem of the ocean!

How oft have I waken'd my wild harp in thee!

While, with eye of expression, and heart of emotion, Listen'd, Kathleen mavourneen, cuishlih ma chree!

The bloom of the moss-rose, the blush of the morning, The soft cheek of Kathleen discloses their dye; What ruby can rival the lip of mavourneen?

What sight-dazzling diamond can equal her eye?

Her silken hair vies with the sunbeam in brightness, And white is her brow as the surf of the sea; Thy footstep is like to the fairy's in lightness, Of Kathleen mavourneen, cuishlih ma chree!

Fair muse of the minstrel! beloved of my bosom!

As the song of thy praise and my pa.s.sion I breathed, Thy fair fingers oft, with the triad leaf'd blossom, Sweet Erin's green emblem, my wild harp have wreathed; While with soft melting murmurs the bright river ran on, That by thy bower follows the sun to the sea; And oh! soon dawn the day I review the sweet Shannon And Kathleen mavourneen, cuishlih ma chree!

HIELAN' HEATHER.

AIR--_"O'er the Muir amang the Heather."_

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

Dear to me, an' aye shall be, The bonnie braes o' Hielan' heather!

The moss-muir black an' mountain blue, Whare mists at morn an' gloamin' gather; The craigs an' cairns o' h.o.a.ry hue, Whare blooms the bonnie Hielan' heather!

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

Whare monie a wild bird wags its wing, Baith sweet o' sang an' fair o' feather; While cavern'd cliffs wi' echo ring, Amang the hills o' Hielan' heather!

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

Whare, light o' heart an' light o' heel, Young lads and la.s.ses trip thegither; The native Norlan rant and reel Amang the halesome Hielan' heather!

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

The broom an' whin, by loch an' lin, Are tipp'd wi' gowd in simmer weather; How sweet an' fair! but meikle mair The purple bells o' Hielan' heather!

Hey for the Hielan' heather!

Whare'er I rest, whare'er I range, My fancy fondly travels thither; Nae countrie charms, nae customs change My feelings frae the Hielan' heather!

Hey, for the Hielan' heather!

FAREWELL TO SCOTLAND.

AIR--_"Kinloch."_

Loved land of my kindred, farewell--and for ever!

Oh! what can relief to the bosom impart; When fated with each fond endearment to sever, And hope its sweet suns.h.i.+ne withholds from the heart!

Farewell, thou fair land! which, till life's pulse shall perish, Though doom'd to forego, I shall never forget, Wherever I wander, for thee will I cherish The dearest regard and the deepest regret.

Farewell, ye great Grampians, cloud-robed and crested!

Like your mists in the sunbeam ye melt in my sight; Your peaks are the king-eagle's thrones--where have rested The snow-falls of ages--eternally white.

Ah! never again shall the falls of your fountains Their wild murmur'd music awake on mine ear; No more the lake's l.u.s.tre, that mirrors your mountains, I'll pore on with pleasure--deep, lonely, yet dear.

Yet--yet Caledonia! when slumber comes o'er me, Oh! oft will I dream of thee, far, far, away; But vain are the visions that rapture restore me, To waken and weep at the dawn of the day.

Ere gone the last glimpse, faint and far o'er the ocean, Where yet my heart dwells--where it ever shall dwell, While tongue, sigh and tear, speak my spirit's emotion, My country--my kindred--farewell, oh farewell!

THE ROSE OF SEATON VALE.

A bonnie Rose bloom'd wild and fair, As sweet a bud I trow As ever breathed the morning air, Or drank the evening dew.

A Zephyr loved the blus.h.i.+ng flower, With sigh and fond love tale; It woo'd within its briery bower The rose of Seaton Vale.

With wakening kiss the Zephyr press'd This bud at morning light; At noon it fann'd its glowing breast, And nestled there at night.

But other flowers sprung up thereby, And lured the roving gale; The Zephyr left to droop and die The Rose of Seaton Vale.

A matchless maiden dwelt by Don, Loved by as fair a youth; Long had their young hearts throbb'd as one Wi' tenderness and truth.

Thy warmest tear, soft Pity, pour-- For Ellen's type and tale Are in that sweet, ill-fated flower, The Rose of Seaton Vale.

KATHERINE AND DONALD.

Young Donald dearer loved than life The proud Dunallan's daughter; But, barr'd by feudal hate and strife, In vain he loved and sought her.

She loved the Lord of Garry's glen, The chieftain of Clanronald; A thousand plaided Highlandmen Clasp'd the claymore for Donald.

On Scotland rush'd the Danish hordes, Dunallan met his foemen; Beneath him bared ten thousand swords Of va.s.sal, serf, and yeomen.

The fray was fierce--and at its height Was seen a visor'd stranger, With red lance foremost in the fight, Unfearing Dane and danger.

"Be praised--brave knight! thy steel hath striven The sharpest in the slaughter; Crave what thou wilt of me--though even My fair--my darling daughter!"

He lifts the visor from his face-- The chieftain of Clanronald!

And foes enclasp in friends' embrace, Dunallan and young Donald.