manuscript book containing selection of poetry including, On the death of Sir J. Hunter Blair and Epitaph on my own friend

On the death of Sir J. H. Blair. ----

The lamp of day with-ill presaging glare,
Dim, cloudy, sunk beyond the western wave:
Th' inconstant blast howl'd thro' the darkening air,
And hollow whistled in the rocky cave. --

Lone as I wander'd by each cliff and dell,
*One the lov'd haunts of Scotia's royal train;
Or mus'd where erst revered waters limpid streams, once hallow'd well,*
Or mouldering ruins mark the sacred Fane.* -

Th' encreasing blast roar'd round the beetling rocks,
The winged clouds ^swift-wing'd flew o'er the starry sky;
The groaning trees untimely shed their locks,
And shooting meteors caught the startled eye. --

The paly moon rose in the livid east,
And 'mong the cliffs disclos'd a stately Form,
In weeds of woe, that pensive frantic beat her breast,
And mix'd her wailings with the raving storm. --

Wild to my heart the filial pulses glow,
'Twas Caledonia's trophy'd shield I view'd:
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The kings's park at Holyroodhouse. ----
St. Anthony's well. ----
St. Anthony's chapel. ----

Her form majestic droop'd in pensive woe,

The lightening of her eye in tears embu'd.

Revers'd that spear redoubtable in war,

Reclin'd that banner, erst in fields unfurl'd,

That like a deathful meteor gleam'd afar,

And brav'd the mighty monarchs of the world. --

"My patriot son fills an untimely grave!"
With accent wild and lifted hands arms she cry'd;
"Low lies the hand oft was stretch'd to save,
Low lies the heart that swell'd with honor's pride!

A weeping Country joins a Widow's tear,
The helpless poor mix with ^ the Orphan's cry;
The drooping Arts surround their Patron's bier,
And grateful Science heaves the heart-felt sigh. --

I saw my sons resume their ancient fire;
I saw fair Freedom's blossoms richly blow:
But ah! how Hope is born but to expire!
Relentless Fate has laid their guardian low. --

My patriot falls, but shall he lie unsung,
While empty Greatness saves a worthless name?

No ; every muse shall join her tuneful tongue,
And future ages hear his growing fame. --

And I will join a Mother's tender cares,
Thro' future times to make his virtues last,
That distant years may boast of other Blairs!" --
She said, and vanish'd with the sweeping blast. --
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Written on the blank leaf of a copy
of the first edition which I presented
to an old sweet-heart, then married --
Rb

Once fondly lov'd, and still remember'd dear,
Sweet early Object of my youthful vows,
Accept this mark of Friendship, warm, sincere,
Friendship! 'tis all cold Duty now allows. ----

And when you read the simple artless rhymes,
One friendly sigh for him, he asks no more,
Who distant burns in flaming torrid climes,
Or haply lies beneath th' Atlantic roar. ----
_________________________

On reading in a newspaper the death
of J. McLeod Esq., brother to Miss Isa-
bella McLeod, a particular acquaintance
of the Author. --

Sad thy tale, thou idle page,
And rueful thy alarms;
Death tears the brother of her love
From Isabella's arms. ----

Sweetly deckt with pearly dew
The morning rose may blow,
But cold, successive noontide blasts
May lay its beauties low. ----

Fair on Isabella's morn
The sun propitious smil'd,
But long ere noon, succeeding clouds
Succeeding hopes beguil'd. ----

Heaven Fate oft tears the bosom chords
That Nature finest strung:
So

So Isabella's heart was form'd
And so that heart was wrung. --

Dread Omnipotence alone
Can heal the wound he gave,
Can point the fearful grief-worn brimful eyes
To scenes beyond the grave. ----

Virtue's blossoms there shall blow,
And fear no withering blast:
There Isabella's spotless worth
Shall happy be at last. ----
____________________
; 

Epitaph -- On a friend. ----

An honest man here lies at rest
As e'er God with his image blest.
The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of Age, and guide of Youth:
Few hearts like his with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this. ----
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The humble petition of Bruar Water
to the noble Duke of Athole ----
Bruar falls are the finest in the country,
but not a bush about them which spoils
much their beauty. ----
ee

My lord, I know your noble ear
Woe ne'er assails in vain;
Embolden'd thus, I beg you'll hear
Your humble slave complain,
How saucy Phebus' scorching beams,
In flaming summer pride,
Dry-withering, waste my foamy streams,
And drink my crystal tide. ----

The lightly-jumping, glowring trouts
That thro' my waters play,

When in their random, wanton spouts
They near the margin stray;
If, hapless chance! they linger lang,
I'm scorching up sae shallow,
They're left the whitening stanes amang
In gasping death to wallow. ----

Last day I grat wi' spite and teen
As Poet Burns came by,
That, to a Bard I should be seen
Wi' half my channel dry:
A panegyric rhyme, I ween,
Even as I was, he shor'd me;
But had I in my glory been,
He kneeling wad ador'd me. --

Here, foaming down the shelvy rocks
In twisting strength I rin;
There high my boiling torrent smokes,
Wild roaring o'er a linn:
Enjoying large each spring and well
As Nature gave them me,
 
I am, altho' I say't mysel,
Worth gaun a mile to see. ----

Would then my noble Master please
To grant my highest wishes,
He'll shade my banks wi' tow'ring (trees,
And bonny spreading bushes:
Delighted doubly then, my Lord,
You'll wander on my banks,
And listen mony a grateful bird
Return you tuneful thanks. ----

The sober laverock, warbling wild
Shall to the skies aspire;
The bairdie, Music's youngest child,
Shall sweetly join the choir:
The blackbird strong, the lintwhite (clear,
The mavis mild and mellow;
The robin pensive Autumn chear,
In all her locks of yellow. ----

This too, a covert shall ensure
To shield them from the storms,

And coward maukins sleep secure,
Low in their grassy forms:
Here shall the shepherd make his seat,
To weave his crown of flowers;
Or find a sheltering, safe retreat
From prone-descending showers. --

And here, by sweet, endearing stealth,
Shall meet the loving pair;
Despising worlds with all their wealth,
As empty, idle care:
The flowers shall vie in all their charms
The hour of heaven to grace;
And birks extend their fragrant arms
To screen the dear embrace. ----

Here haply too, at vernal dawn,
Some musing Bard may stray;
And eye the smoking, dewy lawn,
And misty mountain grey:
Or, by the reaper's nightly beam,
Mild-chequering thro' the trees,
 
Rave to my darkly-dashing stream,
Hoarse-swelling on the breeze. ----

Let lofty firs, and ashes cool,
My lowly banks o'er spread,
And view, deep-bending in the pool,
Their shadow's watry bed:
Let fragrant birks in woodbines drest
My craggy cliffs adorn,
And for the little songster's nest
The close-embowering thorn. ----

So may old Scotia's darling hope,
Your little angel band,
Spring, like their fathers, up to prop
Their honor'd native land!
So may, thro' Albion's farthest ken,
To social-flowing glasses,
The grace be, Athol's honest men,
And Athol's bonie lasses!
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Epistle to Mr. Mcadam of Craigengillan
in answer to an oblidging letter he sent in
the commencement of my poetic career. --
ff

Sir, o'er a gill I gat your card,
I trow it made me proud;
See who taks notice o' the Bard!
I lap and cry'd fu' loud. ----

Now deil-ma-care about their jaw,
The senseless, gawky million;
I'll cock my nose aboon them a',
I'm roos'd by Craigengillan! ----

'Twas noble, Sir; 'twas like yoursel,
To grant your high protection:
A Great man's smile ye ken fu' well,
Is ay a blest infection. ----

Tho', by his banes what in a tub
Match'd Macedonian Sandy!
On my ain legs thro' dirt and dub,
I independent stand ay.
; 

And when those legs to gude, warm (kail,
Wi' welcome canna bear me;
A lee dyke-side, a sybow-tail,
And barley-scone shall cheer me. --











Heaven spare you lang to kiss the breath
O' mony flowery simmers!
And bless your bonie lasses baith,
I'm tald they're loosome kimmers!

And God bless young Dunaskin's laird,
The blossom of our gentry!
And may he wear an auld man's (beard,
A credit to his country!
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