-
Articles/Ads
Article CHAPTER IX. ← Page 9 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Ix.
AA'ith soul-subduing sweetness ? 'Tis the Banshee ! I saw her taper waist , her raven tresses , AVaving , in wanton ringlets , to her feet ; Her face fair as the swan ' s unsullied plume . I viewed her—oh . ' her mien of angel meekness , Her soul-enchanting eyes , her delicate lips , Her white , round breast , her soft and dazzling skin ;
Her sylph-like form , her pale transparent fingers , Her ivory teeth , her mild and marble brow , Proclaimed her immortality ! The image , Though dream-born , fascinates my fancy still . Thrilling with deepest awe , I spoke and asked , From what bright dwelling had the spirit come ? She answered not , but swift as thought evanished , And left me to my dark and troubled solitude .
Methought I called her , but she heeded not My sighs , my cries , mine anguish ; and methought I left my home to seek her . Northwards , first My steps I turned , and came to Guagach ' s palace , Far distant from my dwelling—forth away I speeded on to Croghan ' s fairy hall ; Hence to the Palace of Sernaro , the grand , The grand and gorgeous fairy mansion of Ardroe ,
On whose broad summit mighty hosts assemble ; I visited that glorious dome that stands By the dark rolling waters of the Boyne , AA here Ongus Oge magnificently dwells .
Enough—I reached Mac Lei ' s colossal pride—Departed thence to Creeveroe , and onward To Teman , and the wondrous fairy structure That stands in power on Knockferin ' s airy peak . To Aobhil ' s palace wall at length I came , Which rise below the rock's gigantic brow ; And here mine eyes were feasted ivith the sight Of loveliest damsels dancing to the tones
Of soft voluptuous music ; and I saw , By Aobhil , Thomond's chieftains , mighty spirits , Beautiful , splendid , cased in armed mail , AVhose sports were battle-feats , and tilts and tournaments .
And here , too , seated modestly and mildly , Her long dark tresses loosely flowing round her , I saw the heaven-like being whose bright eyes Had made me thus a wanderer . Glancing round , She saw and recognised me : and she spoke . ' Mortal , ' she said , ' 1 pity thy lone wanderings ; Approach and hear my melancholy tale . The guardian spirit of this land am I :
I weep to see my people fallen—to see My priests and warlike heroes banished hence To alien shores , where , languishing and pining , They groan beneath the iron yoke of slavery ! And , oh ! my child , my son , my lineal heir ! He , too , is far far away from me—an exile ! I mourn for him , for them , for all departed . Pity!—Oh , Heaven , look down upon me ! ' —Here , The cloud that sleep had cast around my senses Departed , and along with it departed
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Ix.
AA'ith soul-subduing sweetness ? 'Tis the Banshee ! I saw her taper waist , her raven tresses , AVaving , in wanton ringlets , to her feet ; Her face fair as the swan ' s unsullied plume . I viewed her—oh . ' her mien of angel meekness , Her soul-enchanting eyes , her delicate lips , Her white , round breast , her soft and dazzling skin ;
Her sylph-like form , her pale transparent fingers , Her ivory teeth , her mild and marble brow , Proclaimed her immortality ! The image , Though dream-born , fascinates my fancy still . Thrilling with deepest awe , I spoke and asked , From what bright dwelling had the spirit come ? She answered not , but swift as thought evanished , And left me to my dark and troubled solitude .
Methought I called her , but she heeded not My sighs , my cries , mine anguish ; and methought I left my home to seek her . Northwards , first My steps I turned , and came to Guagach ' s palace , Far distant from my dwelling—forth away I speeded on to Croghan ' s fairy hall ; Hence to the Palace of Sernaro , the grand , The grand and gorgeous fairy mansion of Ardroe ,
On whose broad summit mighty hosts assemble ; I visited that glorious dome that stands By the dark rolling waters of the Boyne , AA here Ongus Oge magnificently dwells .
Enough—I reached Mac Lei ' s colossal pride—Departed thence to Creeveroe , and onward To Teman , and the wondrous fairy structure That stands in power on Knockferin ' s airy peak . To Aobhil ' s palace wall at length I came , Which rise below the rock's gigantic brow ; And here mine eyes were feasted ivith the sight Of loveliest damsels dancing to the tones
Of soft voluptuous music ; and I saw , By Aobhil , Thomond's chieftains , mighty spirits , Beautiful , splendid , cased in armed mail , AVhose sports were battle-feats , and tilts and tournaments .
And here , too , seated modestly and mildly , Her long dark tresses loosely flowing round her , I saw the heaven-like being whose bright eyes Had made me thus a wanderer . Glancing round , She saw and recognised me : and she spoke . ' Mortal , ' she said , ' 1 pity thy lone wanderings ; Approach and hear my melancholy tale . The guardian spirit of this land am I :
I weep to see my people fallen—to see My priests and warlike heroes banished hence To alien shores , where , languishing and pining , They groan beneath the iron yoke of slavery ! And , oh ! my child , my son , my lineal heir ! He , too , is far far away from me—an exile ! I mourn for him , for them , for all departed . Pity!—Oh , Heaven , look down upon me ! ' —Here , The cloud that sleep had cast around my senses Departed , and along with it departed