The War Of Caros Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C D B E F B B G A A H I A J K A A L| Caros is probably the noted usurper Carausius by birth a Menapran who assumed the purple in the year and seizing on Britain defeated the emperor Maximinian Herculius in several naval engagements which gives propriety to his being called in this poem the king of ships He repaired Agricola's wall in order to obstruct the incursions of the Caledonians and when he was employed in that work it appears he was attacked by a party under the command of Oscar the son of' Ossian This battle is the foundation of the present poem which is addressed to Malvina the daughter of Toscar | A |
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| Bring daughter of Toscar bring the harp the light of the song rises in Ossian's soul It is like the field when darkness covers the hills around and the shadow grows slowly on the plain of the sun I behold my son O Malvina near the mossy rock of Crona But it is the mist of the desert tinged with the beam of the west Lovely is the mist that assumes the form of Oscar turn from it ye winds when ye roar on the side of Ardven | B |
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| Who comes towards my son with the murmur of a song His staff is in his hand his gray hair loose on the wind Surly joy lightens his face He often looks back to Caros It is Ryno of songs he that went to view the foe What does Caros king of ships said the son of the now mournful Ossian spreads he the wings of his pride bard of the times of old He spreads them Oscar replied the bard but it is behind his gathered heap He looks over his stones with fear He beholds thee terrible as the ghost of night that rolls the waves to his ships | C |
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| Go thou first of my bards says Oscar take the spear of Fingal Fix a flame on its point Shake it to the winds of heaven Bid him in songs to advance and leave the rolling of his wave Tell to Caros that I long for battle that my bow is weary of the chase of Cona Tell him the mighty are not here and that my arm is young | D |
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| He went with the murmur of songs Oscar reared his voice on high It reached his heroes on Ardven like the noise of a cave when the sea of Togorma rolls before it and its trees meet the roaring winds They gather round my son like the streams of the hill when after rain they roll in the pride of their course Ryno came to the mighty Caros He struck his flaming spear Come to the battle of Oscar O thou that sittest on the rolling waves Fingal is distant far he hears the songs of bards in Morven the wind of his hall is in his hair His terrible spear is at his side his shield that is like the darkened moon Come to the battle of Oscar the hero is alone | B |
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| He came not over the streamy Carun The bard returned with his song Gray night grows dim on Crona The feast of shells is spread A hundred oaks burn to the wind faint light gleams over the heath The ghosts of Ardven pass through the beam and show their dim and distant forms Comala is half unseen on her meteor Hidallan is sullen and dim like the darkened moon behind the mist of night | E |
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| Why art thou sad said Ryno for he alone beheld the chief Why art thou sad Hidallan hast thou not received thy fame The songs of Ossian have been heard thy ghost has brightened in wind when thou didst bend from thy cloud to hear the song of Morven's bard And do thine eyes said Oscar behold the chief like the dim meteor of night Say Ryno say how fell Hidallan the renowned in the days of my fathers His name remains on the rocks of Cona I have often seen the streams of his hills | F |
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| Fingal replied the bard drove Hidallan from his wars The king's soul was sad for Comala and his eyes could not behold the chief Lonely sad along the heath he slowly moved with silent steps His arms hung disordered on his side His hair flies loose from his brow The tear is in his downcast eyes a sigh half silent in his breast Three days he strayed unseen alone before he came to Lamor's halls the mossy halls of his fathers at the stream of Balva There Lamor sat alone beneath a tree for he had sent his people with Hidallan to war The stream ran at his feet his gray head rested on his staff Sightless are his aged eyes He hums the song of other times The noise of Hidallan's feet came to his ear he knew the tread of his son | B |
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| Is the son of Lamor returned or is it the sound of his ghost Hast thou fallen on the banks of Carun son of the aged Lamor Or if I hear the sound of Hidallan's feet where are the mighty in the war where are my people Hidallan that were wont to return with their echoing shields Have they fallen on the banks of Carun | B |
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| No replied the sighing youth the people of Lamor live They are renowned in war my father but Hidallan is renowned no more I must sit alone on the banks of Balva when the roar of the battle grows | G |
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| But thy fathers never sat alone replied the rising pride of Lamor They never sat alone on the banks of Balva when the roar of battle rose Dost thou not behold that tomb My eyes discern it not there rests the noble Garm llon who never fled from war Come thou renowned in battle he says come to thy father's tomb How am I renowned Garm llon my son has fled from war | A |
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| King of the streamy Balva said Hidallan with a sigh why dost thou torment my soul Lamor I never fled Fingal was sad for Comala he denied his wars to Hidallan Go to the gray streams of thy land he said moulder like a leafless oak which the winds have bent over Balva never more to grow | A |
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| And must I hear Lamor replied the lonely tread of Hidallan's feet When thousands are renowned in battle shall he bend over my gray streams Spirit of the noble Garm llon carry Lamor to his place his eyes are dark his soul is sad his son has lost his fame | H |
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| Where said the youth shall I search for fames to gladden the soul of Lamor From whence shall return with renown that the sound of my arms may be pleasant in his ear If I go to the chase of hinds my name will not be heard Lamor will not feel my dogs with his hands glad at my arrival from the hill He will not inquire of his mountains or of the dark brown deer of his deserts | I |
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| I must fall said Lamor like a leafless oak it grew on a rock it was overturned by the winds My ghost will be seen on my hills mournful for my young Hidallan Will not ye ye mists as ye rise hide him from my sight My son go to Lamor's ball there the arms of our fathers hang Bring the sword of Garm llon he took it from a foe | A |
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| He went and brought the sword with all its studded thongs He gave it to his father The gray haired hero felt the point with his hand | J |
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| My son lead me to Garm llon's tomb it rises beside that rustling tree The long grass is withered I hear the breezes whistling there A little fountain murmurs near and sends its waters to Balva There let me rest it is noon the sun is on our fields | K |
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| He led him to Garm llon's tomb Lamor pierced the side of his son They sleep together their ancient halls moulder away Ghosts are seen there at noon the valley is silent and the people shun the place of Lamor | A |
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| Mournful is thy tale said Oscar son of the times of old My soul sighs for Hidallan he fell in the days of his youth He flies on the blast of the desert his wandering is in a foreign land Sons of the echoing Morven draw near to the foes of Fingal Send the night away in songs watch the strength of Caros Oscar goes to the people of other times to the shades of silent Ardven where his fathers sit dim in their clouds and behold the future war And art thou there Hidallan like a half extinguished meteor Come to my sight in thy sorrow chief of the winding Balva | A |
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| The heroes move with their songs Oscar slowly ascends the hill The meteors of night set on the heath before him A distant torrent faintly roars Unfrequent blasts rush through aged oaks The half enlightened moon sinks dim and red behind her hill Feeble Voices a | L |
James Macpherson
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