IV.
“’Tis well advised—the Chieftain’s plan
Bespeaks the father of his clan.
But wherefore sleeps Sir Roderick Dhu
Apart from all his followers true?”—
“It is, because last evening-tide
Brian an augury hath tried,
Of that dread kind which must not be
Unless in dread extremity;
The Taghairm[225] call’d; by which, afar,
Our sires foresaw the events of war.
Duncraggan’s milk-white bull they slew.”
MALISE.
“Ah! well the gallant brute I knew!
The choicest of the prey we had,
When swept our merry men Gallangad.[226]
His hide was snow, his horns were dark,
His red eye glow’d like fiery spark;
So fierce, so tameless, and so fleet,
Sore did he cumber our retreat,
And kept our stoutest kernes[227] in awe,
Even at the pass of Beal ’maha.
But steep and flinty was the road,
And sharp the hurrying pikeman’s goad,
And when we came to Dennan’s Row,
A child might scathless[228] stroke his brow.”