Joanna Baillie - The Ghost Of Fadon lyrics

ON Gask's deserted ancient hall Was twilight closing fast, And, in its dismal shadows, all Seem'd lofty, void, and vast. All sounds of life, now reft and bare, From its walls had pa**'d away, But the stir of small birds shelter'd there, Dull owl, or clatt'ring jay. Loop-hole and window, dimly seen, With faint light pa**ing through, Grew dimmer still, and the dreary scene Was fading from the view: When the trampling sound of banded men Came from the court without; Words of debate and call, and then A loud and angry shout. But mingled echoes from within A mimick mock'ry made, And the bursting door, with furious din, On jarring hinges bray'd An eager band, press'd rear on van, Rush'd in with clam'rous sound, And their chief, the goodliest, bravest man, That e'er trode Scottish ground. Then spoke forthwith that leader bold, 'We war with wayward fate: 'These walls are bare, the hearth is cold, 'And all is desolate. 'With fast unbroke and thirst unslaked, 'Must we on the hard ground sleep? 'Or, like ghosts from vaulted charnel waked 'Our cheerless vigil keep?' 'Hard hap this day in bloody field, 'Ye bravely have sustain'd, 'And for your pains this dismal bield, 'And empty board have gain'd. 'Hie, Malcom, to that varlet's steed, 'And search if yet remain 'Some homely store, but good at need, 'Spent nature to sustain. 'Cheer up, my friends! still, heart in hand, 'Tho' few and spent we be, 'We are the pith of our native land, 'And she shall still be free. 'Cheer up! tho' scant and coarse our meal, 'In this our sad retreat, 'We'll fill our horn to Scotland's weal, 'And that will make it sweet.' Then all, full cheerly, as they could, Their willing service lent, Some broke the boughs, some heap'd the wood, Some struck the sparkling flint. And a fire they kindled speedily, Where the hall's last fire had been, And pavement, walls, and rafters high, In the rising blaze were seen. Red gleam on each tall bu*tress pour'd, The lengthen'd hall along, And tall and black behind them lower'd Their shadows deep and strong. The ceiling, ribb'd with ma**y oak, From bick'ring flames below, As light and shadow o'er it broke, Seem'd wav'ring to and fro. Their scanty meal was on the ground, Spread by the friendly light, And they made the brown-horn circle round, As cheerly as they might. Some talk of horses, weapons, mail, Some of their late defeat, By treach'ry caused, and many a tale Of Southron spy's retreat. 'Aye, well,' says one, 'my sinking heart 'Did some disaster bode, 'When faithless Fadon's wily art 'Beguiled us from the road.' 'But well repaid by Providence 'Are such false deeds we see; 'He's had his rightful recompence, 'And cursed let him be.' 'Oh! curse him not! I needs must rue 'That stroke so rashly given: 'If he to us were false or true, 'Is known to righteous Heaven.' So spoke their chief, then silent all Remain'd in sombre mood, Till they heard a bugle's larum call Sound distant thro' the wood. 'Rouse ye, my friends!' the chieftain said, 'That blast, from friend or foe, 'Comes from the west; thro' forest shade 'With wary caution go. 'And bring me tidings. Speed ye well!' Forth three bold warriors past. Then from the east with fuller swell Was heard the bugle blast. Out past three warriors more; then shrill, The horn blew from the north, And other eager warriors still, As banded scouts, went forth. Till from their chief each war-mate good Had to the forest gone, And he, who fear'd not flesh and blood, Stood by the fire alone. He stood, wrapp'd in a musing dream, Nor rais'd his drooping head, Till a sudden, alter'd, paly gleam On all around was spread. Such dull, diminish'd, sombre sheen From moon eclips'd, by swain Belated, or lone herd is seen O'er-mantling hill and plain. Then to the fitful fire he turn'd, Which higher and brighter grew, Till the flame like a baleful meteor burn'd Of clear sulphureous blue. Then wist the chief, some soul unblest, Or spirit of power was near; And his eyes adown the hall he cast, Yet naught did there appear. But he felt a strange unearthly breath Upon the chill air borne, And he heard at the gate, like a blast of wrath, The sound of Fadon's horn. Owls, bats, and swallows, flutt'ring, out From hole and crevice flew, Circling the lofty roof about, As loud and long it blew. His noble hound sprang from his lair, The midnight rouse to greet, Then, like a timid trembling hare, Couch'd at his master's feet. Between his legs his drooping tail, Like dog of vulgar race, He hid, and with strange piteous wail, Look'd in his master's face. The porch seem'd void, but vapour dim Soon fill'd the lowering room, Then was he aware of a figure grim, Approaching thro' the gloom. And striding as it onward came, The vapour wore away; Till it stood distinctly by the flame, Like a form in the noon of day. Well Wallace knew that form, that head, That throat unbraced and bare, Mark'd deep with streaming circlet red, And he utter'd a rapid prayer. But when the spectre rais'd its arm, And brandish'd its glitt'ring blade, That moment broke fear's chilly charm On noble Wallace laid. The threaten'd combat was to him Relief; with weapon bare, He rush'd upon the warrior grim, But his sword shore empty air. Then the spectre smiled with a ghastly grin, And its warrior-semblance fled, And its' features grew stony, fix'd, and thin, Like the face of the stiffen'd dead. The head a further moment crown'd The body's stately wreck, Shook hideously, and to the ground Dropt from the bolter'd neck. Back shrunk the noble chief aghast, And longer tarried not, But quickly to the portal past, To shun the horrid spot. But in the portal, stiff and tall, The apparition stood, And Wallace turn'd and cross'd the hall, Where entrance to the wood. By other door he hoped to snatch, Whose pent arch darkly lower'd, But there, like sentry on his watch, The dreadful phantom tower'd. Then up the ruin'd stairs so steep, He ran with panting breath, And from a window--desp'rate leap! Sprang to the court beneath. O'er wall and ditch he quickly got, Thro' brake and bushy stream, When suddenly thro' darkness shot A red and lurid gleam. He look'd behind, and that lurid light Forth from the castle came; Within its circuit thro' the night Appear'd an elrich flame. Red glow'd each window, slit, and door, Like mouths of furnace hot, And tint of deepest blackness wore The walls and steepy moat. But soon it rose with bright'ning power, Till bush and ivy green, And wall-flower, fringing breach and tower, Distinctly might be seen. Then a spreading blaze with eddying sweep, Its spiral surges rear'd, And then aloft on the stately keep, Fadon's Ghost appear'd. A burning rafter, blazing bright, It wielded in its hand; And its warrior-form, of human height, Dilated grew, and grand. Coped by a curling tawny cloud, With tints sulphureous blent, It rose with burst of thunder loud, And up the welkin went. High, high it rose with wid'ning glare, Sent far o'er land and main, And shot into the lofty air, And all was dark again. A spell of horror lapt him round, Chill'd, motionless, amazed, His very pulse of life was bound As on black night he gazed. Till harness'd warriors' heavy tread, From echoing dell arose; 'Thank God!' with utter'd voice, he said, 'For here come living foes.' With kindling soul that brand he drew Which boldest Southron fears, But soon the friendly call he knew, Of his gallant brave compeers. With haste each wond'rous tale was told, How still, in vain pursuit, They follow'd the horn thro' wood and wold, And Wallace alone was mute. Day rose; but silent, sad, and pale, Stood the bravest of Scottish race; And each warrior's heart began to quail, When he look'd in his leader's face.