TICONDEROGA A LEGEND OF THE WEST HIGHLANDS T HIS is the tale of the man Who heard a word in the night In the days of the feud and the fight. Where never a stranger came, It hummed in his waking head: The utterance of the dead. I. THE SAYING OF THE NAME On the loch-sides of Appin, When the mist blew from the sea, The blood beat in his ears, The blood ran hot to his head, The mist blew from the sea, And there was the Cameron dead. "O, what have I done to my friend, 66 O, what have I done to mysel', ΙΟ 20 30 40 50 That he should be cold and dead, And death at each of the fords, And Camerons sharpening swords." But this was a man of counsel, He looked on the blowing mist, He looked on the awful dead, And there came a smile on his face And there slipped a thought in his head. Out over cairn and moss, His hair clove to his face, "I have slain a man to my danger, I put my soul in your hands," The panting Stewart saith. "I lay it bare in your hands, For I know your hands are leal; And be you my targe and bulwark From the bullet and the steel." Then up and spoke the Cameron, And whatever man you have slaughtered, By my sword and yonder mountain, I bid you in to my fireside, 60 I share with you house and hall; 70 It stands upon my honour To see you safe from all.” It fell in the time of midnight, That as the living Cameron Out of the night and the other world, Came in to him the dead. 66 My blood is on the heather, My bones are on the hill; There is joy in the home of ravens 80 90 100 ΙΙΟ And the man that has undone me "I'm wae for your death, my brother, "O, what shall I say to our father, "It's neither fear nor duty, Shall gar me withdraw the plighted hand, Out of the night and the other world And cried to him for vengeance 66 Thrice have you seen me, brother, Till you meet your angry fathers Thrice have I spoken, and now, Before the cock be heard, I take my leave forever With the naming of a word. It shall sing in your sleeping ears, And the warning of the dead." Now when the night was over And the time of people's fears, The Cameron walked abroad, 66 And the word was in his ears. But never a name like this; O, where shall I find a skilly man And the runes that were written of old On stones upon the moor. And many a name he was told, But never the name of his fears Never, in east or west, The name that rang in his ears: Names of men and of clans, Names for the grass and the tree, 120 130 140 |