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From “The Lady of the Lake,” Canto II.
LOUD a hundred clansmen raise | |
| Their voices in their chieftain’s praise. | |
| Each boatman, bending to his oar, | |
| With measured sweep the burthen bore, | |
| In such wild cadence, as the breeze | 5 |
| Makes through December’s leafless trees. | |
| The chorus first could Allen know, | |
| “Roderigh Vich Alpine, ho! ieroe!” | |
| And near, and nearer, as they rowed, | |
| Distinct the martial ditty flowed. | 10 |
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| Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances! | |
| Honored and blessed be the evergreen Pine! | |
| Long may the tree, in his banner that glances, | |
| Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line! | |
| Heaven send it happy dew, | 15 |
| Earth lend it sap anew, | |
| Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, | |
| While every Highland glen | |
| Sends our shouts back again, | |
| “Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!” | 20 |
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| Ours is no sapling chance-sown by the fountain, | |
| Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade; | |
| When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain, | |
| The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade. | |
| Moored in the rifted rock, | 25 |
| Proof to the tempest’s shock, | |
| Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow; | |
| Menteith and Breadalbane, then, | |
| Echo his praise again, | |
| “Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!” | 30 |
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| Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin, | |
| And Bannachar’s groans to our slogan replied; | |
| Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, they are smoking in ruin, | |
| And the best of Loch-Lomond lie dead on her side. | |
| Widow and Saxon maid | 35 |
| Long shall lament our raid, | |
| Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe; | |
| Lennox and Leven-glen | |
| Shake when they hear again, | |
| “Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!” | 40 |
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| Row, vassals, row, for the pride of the Highlands! | |
| Stretch to your oars for the evergreen Pine! | |
| O that the rosebud that graces yon islands | |
| Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine! | |
| O that some seedling gem, | 45 |
| Worthy such noble stem, | |
| Honored and blessed in their shadow might grow! | |
| Loud should Clan-Alpine then | |
| Ring from the deepmost glen, | |
| “Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!” | 50 |
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