Modern reciter/Lord Ullin's Daughter

by Thomas Campbell

For other versions of this work, see Lord Ullin's Daughter.

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LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER.

A chieftain to the Highlands bound,
Cries, 'Boatman do not tarry,
And I'll give thee a silver pound,
To row us o'er the ferry!'—

Now, who he ye would cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy water?'
O I'm the chief of Ulva's isle,
And this Lord Ullin's daughter:—

And fast before her father's men,
Three day's we've fled together;
⟨For⟩ should he find us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather—

His horseman hard behind us ride
Should they our steps discover.
⟨Then⟩, who would cheer my bonny bride,
When they have slain her lover?'—

Out spoke the hardy Highland wight,
I'll go, my chief— I'm ready:—
(illegible text) tis not for your silver bright,
But for your winsome lady!

'And by my word, the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry;
So—though the waves be raging wide—
I'll row you o'er the ferry!'—

By this the storm grew loud арасе,
The water-wraith was shrieking;
And in the scowl of heaven, each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.

But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men!—
Their trampling sounded nearer!

'Oh! haste thee, haste!' the lady cries,
'Though tempests round us gather,
I'll meet the raging of the skies,
But not an angry father.'—

The boat has left a stormy land,
A stormy sea before her—
When—oh! too strong for human hand!
The tempest gather'd o'er her.

And still they rowed amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing:
Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore,
His wrath was chang'd to wailing—

For sore dismayed, through storm and shade,
His child he did discover!—
One lovely arm was stretch'd for aid,
And one was round her lover.

'Come Back! come back!' he cried in grief,
'Across this stormy water:
And I'll forgive your Highland chief,
My daughter!—Oh! my daughter!'

Twas vain! the loud waves lash'd the shore,
Return or aid preventing:
The waters wild went o'er his child—
And he was left lamenting. Campbell.