Classic Poem

XXI.

If ever mortal needed that council, surely he did;
But the wile has now succeeded—he wanders from his path;
The cloud its lightning sendeth, and its bolt the stout oak rendeth,
And the firm arbutus bendeth in the whirlwind, as a lath!
Now and then the moon looks out, but alas! its pale face hath
A dreadful look of wrath.

XXII.

In vain his strength he squanders—at each step he wider wanders—
Now he pauses—now he ponders where his present path may lead;
And, as he round is gazing, he sees—a sight amazing!—
Beneath him, calmly grazing, a noble jet-black steed
“Now, Heaven be praised!” cried Maurice, “this is fortunate indeed—
From this labyrinth I'm freed!”

XXIII.

Upon its back he leapeth, but a shudder through him creepeth,
As the mighty monster sweepeth like a torrent through the dell;
His mane, so softly flowing, is now a meteor blowing,
And his burning eyes are glowing with the light of an inward hell;
And the red breath of his nostrils, like steam where the lightning fell;
And his hoofs have a thunder knell!

XXIV.

What words have we for painting the momentary fainting
That the rider's heart is tainting, as decay doth taint a corse?
But who will stoop to chiding, in a fancied courage priding,
When we know that he is riding the fearful Phooka Horse?
Ah! his heart beats quick and faster than the smitings of remorse
As he sweepeth through the wild grass and gorse!

XXV.

As the avalanche comes crashing, 'mid the scattered streamlets splashing,
Thus backward wildly dashing flew the horse through Céim-an-eich—
Through that glen so wild and narrow back he darted like an arrow—
Round, round by Gougane Barra, and the fountains of the Lee;
O'er the Giant's Grave he leapeth, and he seems to own in fee
The mountains, and the rivers, and the sea!

XXVI.

From his flashing hoofs who shall lock the eagle homes of Malloc.
When he bounds, as bounds the Mialloch in its wild and murmuring tide?
But as winter leadeth Flora, or the night leads on Aurora,
Or as shines green Glashenglora along the black hill's side,
Thus, beside that demon monster, white and gentle as a bride,
A tender fawn is seen to glide.

XXVII.

It is the fawn that fled him, and that late to Alice led him,
But now it does not dread him, as it feigned to do before,
When down the mountain gliding, in that sheltered meadow hiding,
It left his heart abiding by wild Glengariff's shore:
For it was a gentle Fairy who the fawn's light form wore,
And who watched sweet Alice o'er.

XXVIII.

But the steed is backward prancing where late it was advancing,
And his flashing eyes are glancing, like the sun upon Loch Foyle;
The hardest granite crushing, through the thickest brambles brushing,
Now like a shadow rushing up the sides of Slieve-na-goil!
And the fawn beside him gliding o'er the rough and broken soil,
Without fear and without toil.

XXIX.

Through woods, the sweet birds' leaf home, he rusheth to the sea foam,
Long, long the fairies' chief home, when the summer nights are cool,
And the blue sea, like a Syren, with its waves the steed environ,
Which hiss like furnace iron when plunged within a pool,
Then along among the islands where the water nymphs bear rule,
Through the bay to Adragool.

XXX.

Now he rises o'er Bearhaven, where he hangeth like a raven—
Ah! Maurice, though no craven, how terrible for thee!
To see the misty shading of the mighty mountains fading,
And thy winged fire-steed wading through the clouds as through a sea!
Now he feels the earth beneath him—he is loosen'd—he is free,
And asleep in Céim-an-eich.