Poems and Translations from the Ancient Celtic Bards

THE DESERTED VALLEY.

Once, long ago, with dreamy joy,
I hail'd hail'd: welcomed or greeted with enthusiasm the summer-scented gale gale: in poetry, this often refers to a gentle breeze rather than a storm
That wafted me—light-hearted boy—
Afar from thee—my native vale vale: a valley, usually a quiet and peaceful one.

Our light bark light bark: a small, fast sailing ship bounded o'er the wave,
The sea-bird shriek'd its evening spell The "spell" suggests the bird's cry had a magical or haunting quality as night fell.;
And I, unheard, but fondly, gave
To thee and thine a long farewell !

I soon forgot (to think of't now !)
Thy woodland paths and murm'ring rills rills: small brooks or streams;
I in a distant land, and thou
Reposing 'midst green Albion's Albion: the oldest known name for the island of Great Britain, often used poetically to evoke a sense of history or legend hills.

I soon forgot, while many a change
Broke on my view, for I was free
To breast breast: to face or climb boldly the proud Alps' mighty range,
Or bask in sunny Italy. This refers to the "Grand Tour," a traditional trip through Europe—especially Italy and the Alps—taken by young men of means to finish their education.