And oh for thee, by pitying grace Checked oft-times in a devious race, 75 May He, who halloweth the place Where Man is laid, Receive thy spirit in the embrace Sighing I turned away; but ere 80 Night fell I heard, or seemed to hear, Music that sorrow comes not near, A ritual hymn, Chanted in love that casts out fear By Seraphim. TO A HIGHLAND GIRL AT INVERSNEYDE, UPON LOCH LOMOND Sweet Highland Girl, a very shower 5 And these gray rocks; that household lawn; Those trees, a veil just half withdrawn; A murmur near the silent lake; Like something fashioned in a dream; With earnest feeling I shall pray For thee when I am far away: For never saw I mien, or face, 25 In which more plainly I could trace Benignity and home-bred sense Ripening in perfect innocence. Here scattered, like a random seed, Remote from men, thou dost not need, 30 The embarrassed look of shy distress, And maidenly shamefacedness: Thou wear'st upon thy forehead clear The freedom of a mountaineer: A face with gladness overspread! 35 Soft smiles, by human kindness bred! And seemliness complete, that sways Thy courtesies, about thee plays; 1 See Burns's To Ruin, st. 2. With no restraint, but such as springs From quick and eager visitings 40 Of thoughts that lie beyond the reach Of thy few words of English speech: A bondage sweetly brooked, a strife That gives thy gestures grace and life! So have I, not unmoved in mind, 45 Seen birds of tempest-loving kindThus beating up against the wind. What hand but would a garland cull For thee who art so beautiful? O happy pleasure! here to dwell 50 Beside thee in some heathy dell; Adopt your homely ways, and dress, A shepherd, thou a shepherdess! But I could frame a wish for thee More like a grave reality: 55 Thou art to me but as a wave Of the wild sea; and I would have Some claim upon thee, if I could, Though but of common neighborhood. 60 Thy elder brother I would be, What joy to hear thee, and to see! Thy father-anything to thee! Now thanks to Heaven! that of its grace Hath led me to this lonely place. Joy have I had; and going hence 65 I bear away my recompense. In spots like these it is we prize Nor am I loth, though pleased at heart, As I do now, the cabin small, STEPPING WESTWARD "What, you are stepping westward?”- 'Twould be a wildish destiny, If we, who thus together roam In a strange land, and far from home, 5 Were in this place the guests of Chance: The dewy ground was dark and cold; 10 Behind, all gloomy to behold; And stepping westward seemed to be A kind of heavenly destiny: I liked the greeting; 'twas a sound Of something without place or bound; 15 And seemed to give me spiritual right To travel through that region bright. The voice was soft, and she who spake Was walking by her native lake: The salutation had to me 20 The very sound of courtesy: Its power was felt; and while my eye Was fixed upon the glowing sky, The echo of the voice enwrought A human sweetness with the thought 25 Of travelling through the world that lay Before me in my endless way. Behold her, single in the field, 5 Alone she cuts and binds the grain, No nightingale did ever chaunt A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard In springtime from the cuckoo-bird, 15 Breaking the silence of the seas Among the farthest Hebrides. Will no one tell me what she sings?- Or is it some more humble lay, 25 Whate'er the theme, the maiden sang YARROW UNVISITED From Stirling castle we1 had seen Had trod the banks of Clyde, and Tay, 1 Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy. I wandered lonely as a cloud 5 Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Continuous as the stars that shine The waves beside them danced; but they I gazed-and gazed-but little thought For oft, when on my couch I lie THE AFFLICTION OF MARGARET Where art thou, my beloved son, Seven years, alas! to have received 10 To have despaired, have hoped, believed, 15 He was among the prime in worth, 20 As hath been said, they were not base; And never blush was on my face. |