His Country's Savior,* mark him well; And He whom ruthless Fates expel There, where a scepter'd Pictish shadeg Bold, soldier-featur'd, undismay'd Thro' many a wild, romantic grove,|| An aged Judge, I saw him rove, Dispensing good. *William Wallace. † Adam Wallace, of Richardton, cousin to the immortal preserver of Scottish Independence. Wallace, laird of Cragie, who was second in command, under Douglas, earl of Ormond, at the famous battle on the banks of Sark, fought anno 1448. That glorious victory was principally owing to the judicious conduct and intrepid valor of the gallant laird of Cragie, who died of his wounds after the action. Coilus, king of the Picts, from whom the district of Kyle is said to take its name, lies buried, as tradition says, near the family-seat of the Montgomeries of Coil's-field, where his burial-place is still shown. Barskimming, the seat of the late Lord Justice Clerk. VOL. 1.-H With deep-struck reverential awe They gave their lore, This all its source and end to draw, Brydone's brave wardt I well could spy, Where many a Patriot-name on high, DUAN SECOND. WITH musing-deep, astonish'd stare, When, with an elder sister's air, "All hail! my own inspired Bard! I come to give thee such reward As we bestow. * Catrine, the seat of the late doctor, and present professor Stewart. + Colonel Fullarton. "Know, the great Genius of this land As arts or arms they understand, "They Scotia's race among them share; Some fire the Soldier on to dare; Some rouse the Patriot up to bare Corruption's heart; Some teach the Bard, a darling care, "'Mong swelling floods of reeking gore, They ardent, kindling spirits pour; Or, mid the venal senate roar, They, sightless, stand, To mend the honest Patriot-lore, And grace the hand. "And when the bard, or hoary Sage, Charm or instruct the future age, They bind the wild poetic rage In energy, Or point the inconclusive page Full on the eye. "Hence Fullarton, the brave and young; Hence Dempster's zeal-inspired tongue; Hence sweet harmonious Beattie sung His Minstrel lays ;' Or tore, with noble ardour stung, The Skeptic's bays. "To lower orders are assign'd The humbler ranks of human-kind, 510 The rustic Bard, the lab'ring Hind, All choose, as various they're inclin'd, "When yellow waves the heavy grain, The threat'ning storm some strongly rein; Some teach to meliorate the plain With tillage-skill; And some instruct the shepherd-train "Some hint the lover's harmless wile; Some grace the maiden's artless smile; Some sooth the lab'rer's weary toil, For humble gains, And make his cottage-scenes beguile "Some, bounded to a district-space, Of rustic Bard; And careful note each op'ning grace, Of these am I-Coila my name; Held ruling pow'r : I mark'd thy embryo tuneful flame, Thy natal hour. "With future hope, I oft would gaze, Fond, on thy little early ways, Thy rudely caroll'd, chiming phrase, In uncouth rhymes, Fir'd at the simple artless lays "I saw thee seek the sounding shore, I saw grim Nature's visage hoar, Struck thy young eye. "Or when the deep green-mantled earth Warm cherish'd ev'ry flow'ret's birth, Andjoy and music pouring forth In ev'ry grove, I saw the eye the gen'ral mirth With boundless love. "When ripen'd fields, and azure skies, Call'd forth the reapers' rustling noise, I saw thee leave their ev'ning joys, And lonely stalk, To vent thy bosom's swelling rise "When youthful love, warm-blushing strong Keen-shivering shot thy nerves along, Those accents, grateful to thy tongue, Th' adored Name, I taught thee how to pour in song, To sooth thy flame. "I saw thy pulses maddening play, Wild send thee pleasure's devious way, Misled by fancy's meteor ray, By passion driven; But yet the light that led astray. Was light from heaven. |