[From The MAID of LOCHLIN, and other POEMS, by WM. RICHARDSON, A. M. PROFESSOR of HUMANITY in the UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW.]
Softly, very softly blow,
Gales the woody wild that sweep!
Gently, very gently flow,
Surges of the adjoining deep! May no din, nor tumult rude, On this lone recess intrude!
And now beneath the moon-light ray, The languid gale slow panting dies away: With ebbing pause, and hollow groan, the wave Murmurs expiring in a distant cave.
"O, at this solemn, silent hour, May she wave her rod of power; And to Edwald's mental eyes Bid domestic scenes arise! High let the castle's banner'd brow In vision guard the furrow'd vale below; Where in slow state, to meet th' Hibernian deep, Sabrina's mighty waters sweep.
Flowing from the Cambrian wire, Let Music's melting voice conspire With Love's soft accent, while he seems, Rapt in the transport of ecstatic dreams, Again to tread, and with endearment sweet, His hospitable threshold greet,
"O while around his thrilling knees The blooming pledges of our love he sees, Gushing from the well-spring clear
Of pure affection, let th' ingenuous tear Quench the wild lightning of his ardent eye; And every vengeful wish within him die.
"Gentle dreams! with lenient charm, Th' impatience of his soul disarm ; With kindly influence assuage The tumult of vindictive rage: O let no form of injury intrude
On the soft calm of his forgiving mood; But let him wake to peace of mind restor❜d; And sheathe the fury of his fiery sword!"
ELEGIAC VERSES on the PROSPECT of leaving BRITAIN. Written at ETON COLLEGE.
* A picturesque valley in the most southern district of Perthshire, from which issues the river Forth, called in the Gaelic language, which is still spoken there, Avendow, or Black-river, in allusion, perhaps, to the colour it receives from an extensive morass, through which it passes in its way to Stirling, and the Lothians. Q 2
Where Neva flows, but flows in vain, To bless a land of savage slaves; Nor ever heard the native strain Of Freedom soothe his swelling waves! VII.
Wher ewinty winds fierce battle wage, And Nature's lovely form deface: And lawless power, with fiercer rage, Dares to degrade the human race!— Ah! must leave thee, peerless queen Ofisles, to hear the Baltic roar? And Thames's willow'd margin green Relinquish, for a Scythian shore?
Yet still presiding in my breast, May soothing peace of mind remain ! With smile serene, that heavenly guest Preserves th' untainted heart from pain. Alike secure from anxious fear, And th' angry jealousies of pride, That coy divinity will ne'er With selfishness or guile abide.
From innocent and gentle hearts She wards the flying shafts of woe ; And bliss more exquisite imparts Than arrogating monarchs know, Tho' peers and princes round them wait; Tho' fawning minions prostrate bend; Tho' partial Fame proclaim them great; And nations on their nod depend,
O blind to Truth's unerring light, Who tread the paths of guilty Care; Who climb Ambition's giddy height; And think that Peace may sojourn there! She dwells not on the mountain's brow, Tho' crown'd with many a fulgent tower: Sequester'd in the vale below,
She weaves unseen her sylvan bower.
O Virtue, guided by thy ray, My wishes by thy power refin'd, Still may I hold the onward way, And so enjoy sweet peace of mind!
And when my wand'ring days are fled, I'll seek again my native stream; If kind affection be not dead,
And Fancy yield no pleasing dream.
For oft the world's untoward ways Have power the glowing heart to chill; To quench Imagination's blaze; And Hope's unwary blossom kill. Deign to preserve me, Virtue, deign To save me from desponding care; Till, duly disciplin'd, I gain
The palm thy faithful servants wear.
IDYLLION, Occasioned by the DRAWING of a CASCADE in STIRLINGSHIRE, executed by a LADY of distinguished RANK.
« PreviousContinue » |