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Nor was it I alone； to whom Those words had been as words of doom；
By some malicious fiend rehearsed： Another one was standing by； With
princely port； and piercing eye； Of dusky cheek； and brow； and plume；
I thought his heaving heart would burst； His labouring bosom's heave and
swell； So strongly； quickly； rose and fell！ A long； bright blade hung at his
side； Its keen and glittering edge he tried； He bore a bow； and this he drew；
To see if still its spring were true； But other sign could none be caught； Of
what he suffered； felt； or thought。 And then with firm and haughty stride；
He turned away； and left my side； I watched him； as with rapid tread；
Along the river's marge he sped； Till the still twilight's gathering gloom
Hid haughty form； and waving plume。
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Canto II。
I。
He stood where the mountain moss outspread Its smoothness
beneath his dusky foot； The chestnut boughs above his head； Hung
motionless and mute。 There came not a voice from the wooded hill；
Nor a sound from the shadowy glen； Save the plaintive song of the whip…
poor…will；（2） And the waterfall's dash； and now and then； The
night…bird's mournful cry。 Deep silence hung round him； the misty light Of
the young moon silvered the brow of Night； Whose quiet spirit had
flung her spell O'er the valley's depth； and the mountain's height； And
breathed on the air； till its gentle swell Arose on the ear like some loved
one's call； And the wide blue sky spread over all Its starry canopy。
And he seemed as the spirit of some chief； Whose grave could not give
him rest； So deep was the settled hue of grief； On his manly front
impressed： Yet his lips were compressed with a proud disdain； And his
port was erect and high； Like the lips of a martyr who mocks at pain；
As the port of a hero who scorns to fly； When his men have failed in
fight； Who rather a thousand deaths would die； Than his fame
should suffer blight。
II。
And who by kith； and who by name； Is he； that lone； yet haughty
one？ By his high brow； and eye of flame； I guess him old Ottalli's son。
Ottalli！ whose proud name was here In other times； a sound of fear！ The
fleet of foot； and strong of hand； Chief of his tribe； lord of the land； The
forest child； of mind and soul Too wild and free to brook control！ In chase
was none so swift as he； In battle none so brave and strong； To friends；
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all love and constancy； But we to those who wrought him wrong！ His
arm would wage avenging strife； With bow； and spear； and bloody knife；
Till he had taught his foes to feel； How true his aim； how keen his steel。
Now others hold the sway he held； His day and power have passed
away； His goodly forests all are felled； And songs of mirth rise； clear
and gay； Chaunted by youthful voices； where His battle…hymn once filled
the air Where blazed the lurid council fire； The village church erects its
spire； And where the mystic war…dance rang； With its confused； discordant
clang； While stern； fierce lips； with many a cry For blood and vengeance；
filled the sky； Mild Mercy； gentle as the dove； Proclaims her rule of peace
and love。 And of his true and faithful clan； Of child and matron； maid and
man； Of all he loved； survives but one His earliest； and his only son！
That son's sole heritage his fame； His strength； his likeness； and his name。
III。
And thus from varying year to year； The youthful chief has lingered
here； Chief！why is he so nobly named？ How many warriors at his call；
By Arcouski's breath inflamed； Would with him fight； and for him fall？
Of all his father's warrior throng； Remains not one whose lip could now
Rehearse with him the battle song； Whose hand could bend the hostile
bow。 And yet； no weak； complaining word； From his stern lip is ever heard；
And his bright eye； so black and clear； Is never moistened by a tear； Of
quiet mien； and mournful mood； He lives； a stoic of the wood； Gliding
about from place to place； With noiseless step； and steady pace； Haunting
each fountain； glen； and grot； Like the lone Genius of the spot。
IV。
And this was he who； standing there； Seemed as an image of Despair；
Which agony's convulsive strife； Had quickened into breathing life。 The
writhing lip； the brow all wet With Pain's cold； clammy； deathlike sweat；
The hand； that with unconscious clasp； Strained his keen dagger in its
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grasp； The eye； that lightened with the blaze Of frenzied Passion's maniac
gaze； The nervous； shuddering thrill； which came At intervals along his
frame； The tremulously heaving breast； These signs the inward storm
confessed： Yet； through those signs of wo； there broke Flashes of fearless
thought； which spoke A soul within； whose haughty will Would wrestle
with immortal ill； And only quit the strife； when fate Its being should
annihilate。 Silent he stood； until the breeze Bore from his lips some words
like these。
V。
〃The words I speak are no complaint And if I breathe out my
despair； It is not that my heart grows faint； Or shrinks from what 'tis
doomed to bear。 Though every sorrow which may shake Or rend man's
heart； should pierce my own； Their strength united； should not make
My lip breathe one complaining tone。 If I must suffer； it shall be With a
firm heart； a soul elate； A wordless scorn； which silently Shall mock the
stern decrees of fate。 The weak might bend； the timid shrink； Until
misfortune's storm blew by； But I； a chieftain's son； should drink Its
proffered cup without a sigh。 And it will scarcely； to my lip； Seem
harsher than yon fountain's flow； For I have held companionship With
Misery； from my youth till now Have felt； by turns； each pang； each care；
Her hapless sons are doomed； to bear； I caught my mother's parting
breath； When passed she to the spirit land； And from the fatal field of
death； Where； leading on his fearless band； With fiery and resistless
might； He fell； though victor in the fight； Pierced by the arrow of some foe；
I saw my father's spirit go。 And I have seen his warrior men； From
mountain； valley； hill； and glen； Departing one by one； since then； As from
the dry and withered spray； The wilted leaves are blown away； Upon some
windy autumn day： I； only I； am left to be The last leaf of the blighted tree；
Which the first wind that through the sky Goes carelessly careering by；
Will； in its wild； unheeded mirth； Rend from its hold； and dash to earth：
Thus； here alone have I remained； An outcast； where I should have
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reigned。
VI。
〃How shall I to myself alone； The weakness of my bosom own？ Why；
mindful of my fame and pride； When my brave brethren had died； Why；
with my friendly； ready knife； Drew I not forth my useless life？ Was it a
coward fear of death； That bade me treasure up my breath？ Or had life yet
some genial ray； That wooed me in its warmth to stay？ Had earth yet one
whose smile could stir； My spirit with deep love for her？ Yes； though
within me hope was dead； And wild Ambition's dreams were fl