Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824–1897). The Golden Treasury. 1875.

Thomas Campbell

CLXXXI. Lord Ullin’s Daughter

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 bonnie 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 bonnie 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 armèd 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, oh! 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.