THE MAID OF ISLA 1822 AIR-'The Maid of Isla.' Written for Mr. George Thomson's Scottish Melodies. O MAID of Isla, from the cliff That looks on troubled wave and sky, Dost thou not see yon little skiff Contend with ocean gallantly? Now beating 'gainst the breeze and surge, O Isla's maid, she seeks her home. O Isla's maid, yon sea-bird mark, Her white wing gleams through mist and spray Against the storm-cloud lowering dark, As to the rock she wheels away; Where clouds are dark and billows rave, Why to the shelter should she come As breeze and tide to yonder skiff. -- Thou 'rt adverse to the suit I bring, And cold as is yon wintry cliff Where seabirds close their wearied wing. Yet cold as rock, unkind as wave, Still, Isla's maid, to thee I come; For in thy love or in his grave Must Allan Vourich find his home. FAREWELL TO THE MUSE 1822 ENCHANTRESS, farewell, who so oft has decoyed me At the close of the evening through woodlands to roam, Where the forester lated with wonder espied me Explore the wild scenes he was quitting for home. Farewell, and take with thee thy numbers wild speaking The language alternate of rapture and woe: O! none but some lover whose heart-strings are breaking The pang that I feel at our parting can know! Each joy thou couldst double, and when there came sorrow Or pale disappointment to darken my way, What voice was like thine, that could sing of to-morrow 'T was thou that once taught me in accents bewailing To sing how a warrior lay stretched on the plain, And a maiden hung o'er him with aid unavailing, NIGEL'S INITIATION AT WHITEFRIARS From Chapter XVII of The Fortunes of Nigel, published in 1822. YOUR suppliant, by name Nigel Grahame, In fear of mishap From a shoulder-tap; And dreading a claw From the talons of law, That are sharper than briars; His freedom to sue And rescue by you: Through weapon and wit, From warrant and writ, From bailiff's hand, From tipstaff's wand, Is come hither to Whitefriars. By spigot and barrel, By bilboe and buff, Thou art sworn to the quarrel For Whitefriars and its claims To be champion or martyr, |