Aloft the purple pennons wave,
As parting gay from Crinan's shore,
From Morven's wars the seamen brave
Their gallant chieftain homeward bore.
In youth's gay bloom, the brave Macphail
Still blamed the lingering bark's delay;
For her he chid the flagging sail,
The lovely maid of Colonsay.
"And raise," he cried, "the song of love,
"The maiden sung with tearful smile,
"When first, o'er Jura's hills to rove,
"We left afar the lonely isle!
'When on this ring of ruby red
'Shall die,' she said, 'the crimson hue,
'Know that thy favourite fair is dead,
'Or proves to thee and love untrue.'
Now, lightly poised, the rising oar
Disperses wide the foamy spray,
And, echoing far o'er Crinan's shore,
Resounds the song of Colonsay.
"Softly blow, thou western breeze,
"Softly rustle through the sail,
"Sooth to rest the furrowy seas,
"Before my love, sweet western gale!
"Where the wave is tinged with red,
"And the russet sea-leaves grow,
"Mariners, with prudent dread,
"Shun the shelving reefs below.
"As you pass through Jura's sound,
"Bend your course by Scarba's shore,
"Shun, O shun, the gulf profound,
"Where Corrivrekin's surges roar!
"If, from that unbottomed deep,
"With wrinkled form and writhed train,
"O'er the verge of Scarba's steep,
"The sea-snake heave his snowy mane,
"Unwarp, unwind his oozy coils,
"Sea-green sisters of the main,
"And in the gulf, where ocean boils,
"The unwieldy wallowing monster chain.