Firm stood the foe, nor made they flight their care, But hand to hand return'd the equal war : Man close to man, and shield conjoin'd to shield, They with the stable phalanx keep the field. DANE fell on DANE, and man transfix'd his man, Eager we follow ftill the foe with art Wound as they fly, and shoot th' inverted dart. RYNOLD is wounded. Still he urg'd the foe; While down his limbs the crimson torrents flow: With eager voice he ftill foments the ftrife, Preferring ALBION's liberty to life. "An antient pile uprear'd its rev'rent head,. And from its lofty feat furvey'd a mead: The mould'ring walls confefs'd their beauty paft; A fragment falls with each invading blast.. Old arms above the gate time's empire own ;- Prepar'd at once the muniment to storm.. And give the wounded all a fon's relief. "Far on the plain the wounded warrior creeps,. And fcarcely moves along his tott❜ring steps; But ftill, far as his feeble voice cou'd bear, He kindles with his words the diftant war. Quick I approach'd: He first the filence broke; -- And leaning on his launce, the warrior spoke." "Say, why returns young ALPIN from the fight? Pursue the foe, and urge the DANISH flight. I fink, my fon, I fink into the grave; You cannot me, your country, ALPIN, fave." No more he said. --- I, mournful, thus reply, Compaffion melting in my filial eye, O O fire, the DANES, within yon walls fecur'd, "He thus returns: ftill good, ftill gen❜rous mind! My wants are, ALPIN, of no earthly kind: The world, the fading world, retires from view; Earth cloys me now, and all it has, but you. Go, ALPIN, go; within that lofty wood A hermit lives, a holy man and good! Relieve, my fon, relieve me of my cares, And for the dying RYNOLD raise his pray'rs." "Thus faid ;---himself the wounded warrior laid, Within the coolness of a birchen fhade : Some youths around employ their friendly care, Along the tree-fet vale a riv'let flow'd, Irreg'lar files of tow'ring elms embrace, Stretch'd o'er a mofs-grown cave, a grotto forms. Where weaving branches cloud the chequer'd shade; "O bleft with all that dignifies the man! Guide dying RYNOLD thro' the deathful shade.” :--- Long fix'd in folemn thought, and thus replies; "Vain mortals! worms of earth! How can ye dare To deem your deeds not providence's care? Heav'n looks on all below with equal eye : hey long escape, but yet the wicked die. With distant time, O youth! my foul's impreft; Futurity is lab'ring in my breast: Thy blood, which rolling down from FERGUS came, Passes thro' time, a pure untainted stream. ALBION hall in her priftine glory fhine, And, bleft herself, blefs the FERGUSIAN line. And CALEDONIA by her children falls. The ftorm fubfides to the calm flood of peace; The throne returns to FERGUS' antient race. Glad CALEDONIA owns their lawful sway; Happy in them, in her unhappy they! |