| A chieftain to the Highlands bound |
| Cries ‘Boatman, do not tarry! |
| And I’ll give thee a silver pound |
To row us o’er the ferry!’
|
| ‘Now who be ye, would cross Lochgyle |
| This dark and stormy water?’ |
| ‘O I’m the chief of Ulva’s isle, |
And this, Lord Ullin’s daughter.
|
| ‘And fast before her father’s men |
| Three days we’ve fled together, |
| For should he find us in the glen, |
My blood would stain the heather.
|
| ‘His horsemen hard behind us ride— |
| Should they our steps discover, |
| Then who will cheer my bonny bride |
When they have slain her lover?
|
| Out spoke the hardy Highland wight, |
| ‘I’ll go, my chief, I’m ready: |
| It is not for your silver bright, |
But for your winsome lady:—
|
| ‘And by my word! the bonny bird |
| In danger shall not tarry; |
| So though the waves are raging white |
I’ll row you o’er the ferry.’
|
| By this the storm grew loud apace, |
| The water-wraith was shrieking; |
| And in the scowl of heaven each face |
Grew dark as they were speaking.
|
| But still as wilder blew the wind |
| And as the night grew drearer, |
| Adown the glen rode arméd men, |
Their trampling sounded nearer.
|
| ‘O haste thee, haste!’ the lady cries, |
| Though tempests round us gather; |
| I’ll meet the raging of the skies, |
But not an angry father.’
|
| The boat has left a stormy land, |
| A stormy sea before her,— |
| When, O! too strong for human hand |
The tempest gather’d o’er her.
|
| And still they row’d amidst the roar |
| Of waters fast prevailing: |
| Lord Ullin reach’d that fatal shore,— |
His wrath was changed to wailing.
|
| For, sore dismay’d, through storm and
shade |
| His child he did discover:— |
| One lovely hand she stretch’d for aid, |
And one was round her lover.
|
| ‘Come back! Come back!’ he cried in
grief |
| ‘Across this stormy water: |
| And I’ll forgive your Highland chief, |
My daughter!—O my daughter!’
|
| ‘Twas vain: the loud waves lash’d the
shore, |
| Return or aid preventing: |
| The waters wild went o’er his child, |
And he was left lamenting.
|
| Thomas Campbell |
Classic Poems |
| |
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[ Hohenlinden ] [ Freedom and Love ] [ Battle of the Baltic ] [ Lord Ullin's Daughter ] [ Ye Mariners of England ] [ To the Evening Star ] [ The River of Life ] |
