"And it does arise in its strength? I behold my departed friends. Their
gathering is on Lora, as in the days of other years. Fingal comes like
a watery column of mist! his heroes are around; and see the bards of
song,--gray-haired Ullin! stately Ryno! Alpin with the tuneful voice!
the soft complaint of Minona! How are ye changed, my friends, since the
days of Selma's feast, when we contended, like gales of spring as they
fly along the hill, and bend by turns the feebly whistling grass!
"Minona came forth in her beauty, with downcast look and tearful eye.
Her hair was flying slowly with the blast that rushed unfrequent from
the hill. The souls of the heroes were sad when she raised the tuneful
voice. Oft had they seen the grave of Salgar, the dark dwelling of
white-bosomed Colma. Colma left alone on the hill with all her voice of
song! Salgar promised to come; but the night descended around. Hear the
voice of Colma, when she sat alone on the hill!
"_Colma_. It is night: I am alone, forlorn on the hill of storms. The
wind is heard on the mountain. The torrent is howling down the rock. No
hut receives me from the rain: forlorn on the hill of winds!
"Rise, moon, from behind thy clouds! Stars of the night, arise I Lead
me, some light, to the place where my love rests from the chase alone!
His bow near him unstrung, his dogs panting around him! But here I must
sit alone by the rock of the mossy stream. The stream and the wind roar
aloud. I hear not the voice of my love! Why delays my Salgar; why the
chief of the hill his promise? Here is the rock, and here the tree;
here is the roaring stream! Thou didst promise with night to be here.
Ah! whither is my Salgar gone? With thee I would fly from my father,
with thee from my brother of pride. Our race have long been foes: we
are not foes, O Salgar!
"Cease a little while, O winds! stream, be thou silent awhile! Let my
voice be heard around; let my wanderer hear me! Salgar! it is Colma who
calls. Here is the tree and the rock. Salgar, my love, I am here! Why
delayest thou thy coming? Lo! the calm moon comes forth. The flood is
bright in the vale; the rocks are gray on the steep. I see him not on
the brow. His dogs come not before him with tidings of his near
approach. Here I must sit alone!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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