The spicy odours on his pinions borne,
I breathe delighted, as the path I tread
By weary labour to his homested worn;
Whose ruddy offspring gayly run before

With many a far-sought stick, and wither'd thorn, 15
Reft from the hedge their supper fire to light:
Across a slope from western splendor bright,
The pathway leads, edg'd by impurpling flowers,
An hawthorn thicket here extends its shades,
A gushing fount below its current pours
From the grey mossy rock.

There stretch'd reclin'd,

My limbs repose, while volant as the wind,
To Fancy's region wings the unweary'd mind:
The Past and Future people her domain,

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And Inspiration guides them to the Poet's brain-25 Eventful shades a wild swift-passing train!—

What horrid sounds are those which rend the air,
With dreadful clamour hastening to the sky,
(Louder than, each fierce starting from his lair,
Affrighted Lybia hears her lions cry,)

Thro' the grey rocks the mingling echoes fly,
And Howth is shaken to his base beneath?
It is the voice of War-on yonder heath,

He and his friends a dire carousal hold,

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Heaps of the dead (sad cheer) before them roll'd, 35 And smoking streams of blood their thirst assuage. lerne's sons are busied in the rite

Green-mantled island, thy undaunted brood,
(Than whom no dearer partners in the fight
Can Valour have to share his faulchion's toil,)
Firm as a rock 'gainst Ocean's maddest mood,
By Justice marshall'd, now resist the rage,
Of hostile Denmark, and her efforts foil.

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The warlike youths advance by Borom led, Their Sovereign great and good, whose pow'rful hand Ruled his discordant tribes with firm controul- 45 Serene his temper, but of dauntless soul; Bound to his throne by Love's unslackening chain, His subjects hearts he held; while thro' the land Peace, and her sister Plenty, pour'd around Their various blessings, (rich as summer rain When falls its beverage on the thirsty ground) Fruits of his wisdom: nor when Time had shed The sacred snows of age upon his head, When now the stern invader sought to gain A footing on his shores, shrunk he away, And left the younger arms to check the foe; Disdain once more renews his valour's glow; Arous'd his ancient fire, he forms th' array, Leads on his warriors, and provokes th' affray. Severe the conflict is, and loud the strife, When with harsh clangour every clattering shield Strikes on th' opposing boss-the prize is life, And arm to arm 'tis fought for 'bove the field The whizzing arrows wing their fatal flight; Beneath the iron shower falls many a Chief, And many a Warrior sinks to endless night. Fill'd with vain hope from mystic terms of Fate, To certain victory the Ostmen came,

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But Death for conquest, and disgrace for Fame, 70
On the proud raven's sable plumes await.
Before Aurora's guilt-appalling beam

Dispers'd the darkness, and illum'd the east,
While sleep-inducing shades the world opprest,
On the bleak shore, where late the ebbing tide
Fled murmuring before the gusts of night,
A pile was rais'd, to feed whose murky light,

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A sea-worn bark her shatter'd ribs supply'd, That erst amid the waves her faithless side Disclos'd, and gave her inmates to the flood. Around the fire the Chiefs of Denmark stood Silent and pale; while in her sacred stole Involv'd the Priestess sate, her face conceal'd: Quick thro' her mind mysterious fancies roll, And magic spells are framed, while sighs reveal'd, 85 And broken sounds, the toil within her breast: In solemn accents then, inspiring dread, Arising, thus she bade the rites proceed: "Thrice to the North, thrice turn thee to the East, "And to the South as oft, thence to our aid, "On her cloud-trampling steed each fatal Maid "Hies to the war; while hovering in the West, "Ierne's guardian views th' embattled plain; "Greet not that hostile sky, save with disdain"The Brave should conquer, not appease their foes; "He on his sword alone for help relies,

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"Whom the dark-mantled Sisters highly prize, "Great Odin's daughters: they Valhalla close "Against the coward, but those blest abodes, "Where in rich draughts the honey'd beverage flows, "Unfold they to the death-despising men, "Who thro' the festal hours bright sparkling goblets

drain,

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"And hear immortal songs, and banquet with the

gods.

"Be now the war-prevailing powers ador'd!"
Obedient to her word, the sable steeds
Are led along reluctant to the pile ;

To Odin, grisly King, one courser bleeds,
Another's vital stream to Thor is pour'd,
A third to Freya:-Runic charms the while,

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ic

With many a potent drug, and powerful spell, To Heav'n the fury of the bonfire swell: These sacred rites perform'd, the Priestess pray'd: "Hear us, dread Sov'reign of th' undaunted souls "Who stand the shout of Death without dismay; "Great Odin hear-whose iron spear controuls 115 "The realm of shadows with unbounded sway; "And ye, stern guardians of Valhalla's gates, (Hid from the coward in terrific shade, "But to the brave disclosing blissful seats,) "Dire Sisters hear your votaries sole demand. "Bend on our Foes the unapproving frown, "Which scatters thro' the field heart-throbbing flight; "Hear us, propitious hear. Let Victory rest

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"From the war-harvest on our standard's height!

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Even as she spoke, and while the murmuring croud

"We ask not safety, but unsham'd renown;

"Be life the forfeit, so we gain the fight."

Responsive seconded the dread request,

Upborne upon the gale a lurid cloud,

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(As the skiff floats upon the billow's breast,)
Ascends above the pyre, whose flames deprest,
Cow'rs, neath the fog.-An hollow sullen sound
From the mid vapour broke, as thunder loud,
And where the murky wreaths of mist divide,
A strangely wild mysterious form appear'd,
That might appal the brave, the firm confound,
And strike the heart against its shuddering side:
So thro' the haze of dawn aloft is rear'd
Some hill's dark summit-thick disshevel'd hair
In elf-locks starting, her wan temples crown'd, 140
Blood-dripping robes her limbs gigantic bound
In part; her meagre sinewy arms were bare,

And wither'd breast and neck; while as she frown'd,

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With wizard glance her eyes malicious glare;
And chiding then, she pointed to the foe,
And spoke in voice of more than human mould;
"Why linger ye ice-cradled, haste, be bold,
"Soon from your swords let havock's torrent flow,
"While Death exulting soars above the stream.
"Splendid shall Glory's time-surviving beam
"Shine round their heads who seek th' immortal
meed,

"Amid the strife of spears when warriors bleed.
"And lo, Ierne mourns-her aspect lours-
"Vain are his virtues, vain his high estate,
"What can retard th' unerring dart of Fate?
"Not the rich tear a sorrowing nation pours,
"The grey-poll'd king again to life restores.
"Haste to the field, ere sets yon rising sun,
"A battle must be lost, a battle won.'
Then bending to the heath the Demon turn'd,
And in the shade was hid. Each listening ear,
With words of dubious import vainly pleas'd,
Attends the call to fight; the sword is seiz'd,

"

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The iron buckler pois'd, and rais'd the quivering

spear:

Hope fired each warrior's eye, and in his bosom

burn'd.

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Nor stay'd Ierne's offspring from the field, For what base impulse could their force abate? Since all that warms the soul with noblest heat, Now every Soldier's heart indignant swell'd: Their freedom threaten'd by th' invading foe; The Victor's insults, and the Captive's woe, In thought sustain'd, the mind with anguish wrung; All that is dearest to the gen'rous breast; All that is hoped for, all that is possest,

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