Shines in the greeting of the sun's first ray Humanity is humble, finds no spot 5 Which her Heaven-guided feet refuse to tread. The walls are cracked, sunk is the flowery roof, Undressed the pathway leading to the door; 10 But love, as Nature loves, the lonely Poor; Search, for their worth, some gentle heart wrong-proof, Meek, patient, kind, and, were its trials fewer, Belike less happy.-Stand no more aloof!1 XV. THE HIGHLAND BROACH. The exact resemblance which the old Broach (still in use, though rarely met with, among the Highlanders) bears to the Roman Fibula must strike every one, and concurs with the plaid and kilt, to recall to mind the communication which the ancient Romans had with this remote country. IF to Tradition faith be due, And echoes from old verse speak true, No common light of nature blessed 1 See Note. 5 ΙΟ Where haughty Force had striven in vain; The fairest, while with fire and sword Must walk the sorrowing mountains, drest 15 20 25 30 35 40 Yet still the female bosom lent, And loved to borrow, ornament; Still was its inner world a place Reached by the dews of heavenly grace 45 When alternations came of rage Yet fiercer, in a darker age; And feuds, where, clan encountering clan, For maid and mother, when despair To meet such need as might befall- 50 55 The hidden silver Broach was left. 60 As generations come and go, While young delights on old encroach, 65 70 75 But when, from out their viewless bed, Or torrent from the mountain's brow, Or whirlwind, reckless what his might Blind Chance, a volunteer ally, May render back the Highland Broach.1 85 90 XVI. THE BROWNIE. Upon a small Island, not far from the head of Loch Lomond, are some remains of an ancient building, which was for several years the abode of a solitary Individual, one of the last survivors of the clan of Macfarlane, once powerful in that neighbourhood. Passing along the shore opposite this island in the year 1814, the Author learned these particulars, and that this person then living there had acquired the appellation of "The Brownie." See "The Brownie's Cell," to which the following is a sequel. "How disappeared he?" Ask the newt and toad; Ask of his fellow men, and they will tell Under an arch of that forlorn abode; Where he, unpropped, and by the gathering flood Of years hemmed round, had dwelt, prepared to try 6 1 How much the Broach is sometimes prized by persons in humble stations may be gathered from an occurrence mentioned to me by a female friend. She had had an opportunity of benefiting a poor old woman in her own hut, who, wishing to make a return, said to her daughter in Erse, in a tone of plaintive earnestness, "I would give anything I have, but I hope she does not wish for my Broach!" and, uttering these words, she put her hand upon the Broach which fastened her kerchief, and which, she imagined, had attracted the eye of her benefactress. Privation's worst extremities, and die A choice that wears the aspect of a doom; IO For Souls familiar with the eternal Voice; Drove from itself, we trust, all frightful gloom. XVII. TO THE PLANET VENUS, AN EVENING STAR. Composed at Loch Lomond. THOUGH joy attend Thee orient at the birth To watch thy course when Day-light, fled from earth, 5 In the grey sky hath left his lingering Ghost, The mountain borders of this seat of care, XVIII. BOTHWELL CASTLE. (Passed unseen, on account of stormy weather.) 10 IMMURED in Bothwell's towers, at times the Brave (So beautiful is Clyde) forgot to mourn |