LORD ULLIN’S DAUGHTER

Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) born in Glasgow, Scotland, is chiefly remembered for his poems which deal with human affaires and are full of sentiments. ‘The Pleasure Of Hope’ (1799), a traditional 18th century survey in heroic couplets and some soul stirring patriotic war songs like ‘The Battle Of The Baltic’, ballads and poems on legendary subjects like “Lord Ullin’s Daughter” have earned him a prominent place in the annals of English Literature. Campbell was particular about a polished perfection in narration which he achieved with remarkable verbal felicity.

About The Poet

“Lord Ullin’s Daughter” is a love poem by Thomas Campbell. It is written in the form of a ballad . A ballad is a poem that tells a story in a simple rhyming verse. The poem is a tragic story of two lovers who lose their lives for the sake of their love only because of the false ego and stubbornness of the girl’s father who loses his daughter in the bargain. The father repents in the end but then it was too late.

About The Poem

The poem is an account of the tragic end of two lovers who choose to be together in death than to be forced by the world into living lives separately. The poem poignantly depicts a conflict between the rebellious nature of youth and the tyrannical authority of parents. It also depicts a repentant father’s tragedy, who blinded by his ego saw the depth of love between the two when it was too late and he helplessly saw his daughter drowning.

Theme

The poem conveys the message that rash decisions can lead to disastrous results. But for the ego, dictatorial parental attitude and thoughtless stubbornness, the lives of the two lovers could have been saved. Lack of vision and foresight can spell tragedies.

Message

Title“Lord Ullin’s Daughter” is a poem revolving around the tragic love story of Lord Ullin’s daughter. The story covers right from her desperate effort to flee with her lover and cross Lochgyle to her unequal struggle with the tempest and her eventual drowning in the sea. Hence, the poet has rightly chosen to title the poem “Lord Ullin’s Daughter”.

A Chieftain, to the highlands bound,

Cries, “Boatman, do not tarry! And I’ll give thee a silver pound

To row us o’er the ferry!”-

“Now, who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,

This dark and stormy weather?” “O, I’m the chief of Ulva’s isle,

And this, Lord Ullin’s daughter.-

“And fast before her father’s men Three days we’ve fled together,

For should he find us in the glen, My blood would stain the heather.

“His horsemen hard behind us ride;Should they our steps discover,

Then who will cheer my bonny brideWhen they have slain her lover?”

Out spoke the hardy Highland Wight,“I’ll go, my chief- I’m ready:

It is not for your silver bright,But for your winsome lady.

“And by my word! The bonny birdIn danger shall not tarry;

So, though the waves are raging white,I’ll row you o’er the ferry.”

By this the storm grew loud apace,The water-wraith was shrieking;

And in the scowl of heaven each faceGrew dark as they were speaking.

But still as wilder blew the wind,And as the night grew drearer,

Adown the glen rode armed men,The trampling sounded nearer.

“O haste thee, haste!” the lady cries,“Though tempests round us gather;

I’ll meet the raging of the skies,But not an angry father.”

The boat has left a stormy land,A stormy sea before her,

When, O! too strong for human hand,The tempest gathered o’er her.

And still they rowed amidst the roarOf waters fast prevailing:

Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore, --His wrath was changed to wailing.

For, sore dismayed through storm and shade,

His child he did discover: -One lonely hand she stretched forayed,

And one was round her lover.

“Come back! Come back!” he cried in grief

“Across this stormy water:And I’ll forgive your highland chief,

My daughter! – O my daughter!”

It was vain: the loud waves lashed the shore,

Return or aid preventing:The water wild went o’er his child,

And he was left lamenting.

A Chieftain, to the highlands bound,Cries, “Boatman, do not tarry!”And I’ll give thee a silver pound

To row us o’er the ferry!” The Chieftain heading towards the

highland asked the boatman to take them across to the other shore. He asked him not to delay and promised to give him a silver pound for the job.

Explanation of the Poem

“Now, who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,This dark and stormy weather?”“O, I’m the chief of Ulva’s isle,

And this, Lord Ullin’s daughter.- The boatman was shocked to find someone

wishing to cross Lochgyle in such a stormy weather. He asked the young man to disclose his identity. The man said that he was the chief of Ulva’s isle and he was accompanied by Lord Ullin’s daughter.

And fast before her father’s menThree days we’ve fled together,

For should he find us in the glen,My blood would stain the heather.

The chief further told that he along with his beloved was being chased for three long days by Lord Ullin’s men. They fled together as they knew fully well that if they were caught, the Chieftain would be brutally killed and his blood would stain the plants.

His horsemen hard behind us ride;Should they our steps discover,

Then who will cheer my bonny brideWhen they have slain her lover?

The chase was still going on. In the event of being spotted the lover would be killed. Then there would no one to console and cheer up his beautiful bride.

Out spoke the hardy Highland Wight,“I’ll go, my chief-I’m ready:

It is not for your silver bright,But for your winsome lady.

The strong and valiant boatman from the Highland readily agreed to row the lovers across the Lochgyle. He made it clear that it was not because of his agreed but because he was impressed with the charm and innocence of the Chief’s lady-love, that he had agreed to take them across Lochgyle.

“And by my word! The bonny birdIn danger shall not tarry;

So, though the waves are raging white,I’ll row you o’er the ferry.”

The boatman promised that the beautiful girl would not be delayed or exposed to danger. Hence in spite of the threatening storm, he would row them in his boat.

But still as wilder blew the wind,And as the night grew drearer,

Adown the glen rode armed men,Their trampling sounded nearer.

With the deterioration of the weather and the fast approaching night, Lord Ullin’s men came dangerously near riding down the narrow valley.

For, sore dismayed through storm and shade,His child he did discover:-

One lovely hand she stretched for aid,And one was round her lover.

Utterly shocked, Lord Ullin spotted his daughter, struggling in the storm. She had helplessly raised one hand to be rescued and she had put the other one round her lover.

The boat has left a strong land,A stormy sea before her,

When, O! too strong for human hand,The tempest gathered o’er her.

The boat plunged into the tempestuous sea leaving behind the land where a hot chase was given to the lovers. Soon after, the storm grew too fierce to be handled by any human being.

THANKING YOU

Made By:

Abhinav KaushalIX – A

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