For honest men delight will take To spare your failings for his sake, Your steps pursue; And of your Father's name will make Far from their noisy haunts retire, With service meet; There seek the genius of your Sire, Or where, 'mid "lonely heights and howe," Bedewed with toil, While reapers strove, or busy ploughs His judgment with benignant ray Let faith be given; Nor deem that "light which leads astray Is light from Heaven." Let no mean hope your souls enslave; Your Father such example gave, But be admonished by his grave, V. ELLEN IRWIN: OR, THE BRAES OF KIRTLE. FAIR Ellen Irwin, when she sat From many knights and many squires By Ellen was rejected. Sad tidings to that noble Youth! For it may be proclaimed with truth, The Kirtle is a river in the southern part of Scotland, on the banks of which the events here related took place. If Bruce hath loved sincerely, But what are Gordon's form and face, The Gordon, couched behind a thorn, Proud Gordon, maddened by the thoughts That through his brain are travelling, Rushed forth, and at the heart of Bruce He launched a deadly javelin! Fair Ellen saw it as it came, And, starting up to meet the same, Did with her body cover The Youth, her chosen lover. And, falling into Bruce's arms, Thus died the beauteous Ellen, Thus from the heart of her True-love The mortal spear repelling. And Bruce, as soon as he had slain But many days, and many months, This wretched Knight did vainly seek And there his sorrow ended. Now ye, who willingly have heard By Ellen's side the Bruce is laid; And its forlorn Hic jacet! VI. TO A HIGHLAND GIRL. (At Inversneyde, upon Loch Lomond.) SWEET Highland Girl, a very shower Twice seven consenting years have shed Their utmost bounty on thy head: And these gray rocks; that household lawn ; Those trees, a veil just half withdrawn ; This fall of water that doth make With earnest feeling I shall pray For thee when I am far away: For never saw I mien, or face, In which more plainly I could trace Benignity and homebred sense Ripening in perfect innocence. Here scattered, like a random seed, Thou wear'st upon thy forehead clear |