Collected Works (Vol. I)

THE LEGEND OF BEN LEDI IO! For scarce two days when sickness took the hing, and death dissolved the violence of the ring. T ruled alone; I left my palace gate To see if Love should have the laugh at Fat. And so I violated Death, and died ; But in the other land my spirit cried For incarnation : conquering I came Within my soulless body as a flame. Endowing which with sacred power I sought A little while, as thought that seeks for thought. [ found his changeless love endure as mine, His passion curl around me as a vine. So clinging fibres of desire control My perfect body, and my perfect soul Shot flakes of light toward him. So my eyes, Seeking his face, were made divinely wise. So, solemn, silent, ’mid a merry folk I bound him by my forehead’s silver yoke, And grew immense about him and within, And so possessed him wholly, without sin. For I had crossed the barrier and knew There was no sin. His lips reluctant grew Ardent at last as recognising me, and love’s wild tempest sweeps upon his sea. And I? I knew not anything, but know We are still silent, and united so, And all our being spells one vast To Re, A passion like the passion of the sea. THE LEGEND OF BEN LEDI.! ON his couch Imperial Alpin ? In majestic grandeur lay, Dying with the sun that faded O’er the plain of granite gray. 1 The ‘‘ Hill of God.” 2 The first King of all Scotland. Snowy white his beard descended, Flecked with foeman’s crimson gore, And he rose and grasped his broadsword, And he prayed to mighty Thor : ‘God of thunder, god of battle, God of pillage and of war, ITear the King of Scotland dying On the Leny’s thundrous shore ! “ Thrice three hundred have I smitten With my single arm this day ; Now of life my soul is weary, Tam old, I pass away. ‘* Grant me this, immortal monarch, Such a tomb as ne'er before, Such atomb as never after Monarch thought or monarch saw.” Then he called his sons around him, And he spake again and cried : ** Seven times a clansman’s bowshot Lay me from the Leny’s side. ‘Where the plain to westward sinketh, Lay me in ny tartan plaid, All uncovered to the tempest, In my hand my trusty blade.” Hardly had he spake the order, When his spirit passed away ; And his sons their heads uncovered As they bore him o’er the brae. Seven times did Phail McAlpine Bend his mighty bow of yew ; Seven times with lightning swiftness West the wingéd arrow flew. Seven times a clansman’s bowshot From the Leny’s western shore, Laid they him where on to Achray Spread the plain of Ian Vohr. Hard by Teith’s tumultuous waters Camped his sons throughout the night, Till the rosy blush of morning Showed a vast majestic sight