The scenery and legend of Mr. James Hay Allan’s poem, “The Bridal of
Caölchairn,” are derived from the vicinity of Cruachan, (or
Cruachan-Beinn,) a mountain 3390 feet above the level of the sea,
situated at the head of Loch Awe, a lake in Argyleshire. The poem
commences with the following lines: the prose illustrations are from Mr.
Allan’s descriptive notes.
Grey Spirit of the Lake, who sit’st at eve
At mighty Cruächan’s gigantic feet;
And lov’st to watch thy gentle waters heave
The silvery ripple down their glassy sheet;
How oft I’ve wandered by thy margin sweet,
And stood beside the wide and silent bay,
Where the broad Urcha’s stream thy breast doth meet,
And Caölchairn’s forsaken Donjon grey
Looks from its narrow rock upon thy watery way.
Maid of the waters! in the days of yore
What sight yon setting sun has seen to smile
Along thy spreading bound, on tide, and shore,
When in its pride the fortress reared its pile,
And stood the abbey on “the lovely isle;”
And Fraòch Elan’s refuge tower grey
Looked down the mighty gulf’s profound defile.
Alas! that Scottish eye should see the day,
When bower, and bield, and hall, in shattered ruin lay.
What deeds have past upon thy mountain shore;
What sights have been reflected in thy tide;
But dark and dim their tales have sunk from lore:
Scarce is it now remembered on thy side
Where fought Mac Colda, or Mac Phadian died.
But lend me, for a while, thy silver shell,
’Tis long since breath has waked its echo wide;
Then list, while once again I raise its swell,
And of thy olden day a fearful legend tell--