If, then, some natural shadows spread The soul's deep valley was not slow Eternal blessings on the Muse, The blameless Muse, who trains her Sons Has o'er their pillow brooded; And Care waylays their steps-a Sprite Not easily eluded. For thee, O SCOTT! compelled to change O! while they minister to thee, With Strength, her venturous brother; And Tiber, and each brook and rill With unimagined beauty shine, For Thou, upon a hundred streams, At parent Nature's grateful call, A gracious welcome shall be thine, Dreams treasured up from early days, And what, for this frail world, were all Did no responsive harp, no pen, Yea, what were mighty Nature's self? Her features, could they win us, Unhelped by the poetic voice That hourly speaks within us? Nor deem that localised Romance Ah, no! the visions of the past Life as she is our changeful Life, Bear witness, Ye, whose thoughts that day By the last Minstrel,' (not the last!) Flow on for ever, Yarrow Stream! Fulfil thy pensive duty, Well pleased that future Bards should chant To dream-light dear while yet unseen, Dear to the common sunshine, And dearer still, as now I feel, To memory's shadowy moonshine! II. ON THE DEPARTURE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT FROM ABBOTSFORD, FOR NAPLES. A TROUBLE, not of clouds, or weeping rain, VOL. IV. II For kindred Power departing from their sight; Lift up your hearts, ye Mourners! for the might Than sceptered king or laurelled conqueror knows, III. A PLACE OF BURIAL IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND. [SIMILAR places for burial are not unfrequent in Scotland. The one PART fenced by man, part by a rugged steep Their prayers out to the wind and naked skies. " Proud tomb is none; but rudely-sculptured knights, IV. ON THE SIGHT OF A MANSE IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND. [THE manses in Scotland and the gardens and grounds about them have seldom that attractive appearance which is common about our English parsonages, even when the clergyman's income falls below the average of the Scotch minister's. This is not merely owing to the one country being poor in comparison with the other, but arises rather out of the equality of their benefices, so that no one has enough to spare for decorations that might serve as an example for others; whereas, with us, the taste of the richer incumbent extends its influence more or less to the poorest. After all, in these observations the surface only of the matter is touched. I once heard a conversation in which the Roman Catholic Religion was decried on account of its abuses. "You cannot deny, however," said a lady of the party, repeating an expression used by Charles 2nd, "that it is the religion of a gentleman." It may be left to the Scotch themselves to determine how far this observation applies to their Kirk, while it cannot be denied, if it is wanting in that characteristic quality, the aspect of common life, so far as concerns its beauty, must suffer. Sincere christian piety may be thought not to stand in need of refinement or studied ornament; but assuredly it is ever ready to adopt them, when they fall within its notice, as means allow; and this observation applies not only to manners, but to everything a christian (truly so in spirit) cultivates and gathers round him, however humble his social condition.] SAY, ye far-travelled clouds, far-seeing hills- |