The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

492 T he Highland Monthly.
And loathsome shapes in darkness grown
From dismal den and lair were torn,
And down the canyoned stream were thrown
By Goll the son of Morn.
To war with wrong, a vow well kept,
'Gainst hateful life and slavish fear,
Onwards the hunter-warriors swept
With shout and shining spear.
—
But one enorm enchanted brute,
The venomous Wild-boar of Glen Glass,
Baleful as fiend and swift of foot.
And cased in hide of brass.
Was proof against their bravest deed,
And mocked their lures to circumvent;
Mac Cumhal's wit and Caoilte's speed
On him were vainly spent.
His lair on Meall-an-Tuirc's rough side,
Where Mala Lia kept her swine
— —
Witch Mala Lia, evil-eyed,
Foul, shapeless, and malign
Was all begrimed with filth and gore.
And horrid with the limbs of men
The unclean monster killed and tore
To feast on in his den.
He ranged and ravaged at his will
Malific over field and fell ;
He moved but to despoil and kill.
In guard of wizard spell.
" Whose task," said Fion, " shall it be
To track this hell-hound to his den
To end his vile career, and free
From dread the paths of men ?"
And each of all the glorious band,
Whose work was war on land and sea
'Gainst wrong and darkness, and the hand
Of cruel anarchy.
Was ready then and there to go
And quell the wild beast in his lair,
Save Conan, craven as a crow
That croaks when others dare.