VI. But Thou, who own'st that earthy bed, VII. Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye VIII. But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide IX. And see, the fairy valleys fade, Dun Night has veil'd the solemn view! X. The genial meads assign'd to bless Thy life, shall mourn thy early doom; Their hinds, and shepherd-girls shall dress With simple hands thy rural tomb. XI. Long, long, thy stone, and pointed clay DIRGE IN CYMBELINE, SUNG BY GUIDERUS AND ARVIRAGUS OVER FIDELE, SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. To fair Fidele's grassy tomb Soft maids and village hinds shall bring No wailing ghost shall dare appear And melting virgins own their love. When howling winds, and beating rain, AN ODE ON THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS OF THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND, CONSIDERED AS THE SUBJECT OF POETRY. H-thou return'st from Thames, whose Naiads long Have seen thee ling'ring, with a fond delay, Mid those soft friends, whose hearts, some future day, Shall melt, perhaps, to hear thy tragic song. Go, not unmindful of that cordial youth, Whom, long endear'd, thou leav'st by Lavant's side; Together let us wish him lasting truth, And joy untainted with his destin'd bride. Thou need'st but take the pencil to thy hand, And paint what all believe who own thy genial land. II. THERE must thou wake perforce thy Doric quill, ODE ON POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS 67 There each trim lass that skims the milky store Or, stretch'd on earth, the heart-smit heifers lie. Such airy beings awe th' untutor'd swain: Nor thou, though learn'd, his homelier thoughts neglect; Let thy sweet muse the rural faith sustain ; These are the themes of simple, sure effect, That add new conquests to her boundless reign, And fill, with double force, her heart-commanding strain. III. Ev'N yet preserv'd, how often may'st thou hear, ear. At ev'ry pause, before thy mind possest, Old RUNIC bards shall seem to rise around, With uncouth lyres, in many-coloured vest, Their matted hair with boughs fantastic crown'd: Whether thou bid'st the well-taught hind repeat * The choral dirge that mourns some chieftain brave, When ev'ry shrieking maid her bosom beat, And strew'd with choicest herbs his scented grave; Or whether, sitting in the shepherd's shiel, Thou hear'st some sounding tale of war's alarms; When at the bugle's call, with fire and steel, * First written, relate. The sturdy clans pour'd forth their bony swarms, And hostile brothers met to prove each other's arms IV. "Tis thine to sing, how framing hideous spells In SKY's lone isle the gifted wizzard seer, Lodged in the wintry cave with Or in the depth of Uist's dark forests dwells: Their glance some fated youth descry, Their bidding heed ‡, and at their beck repair. VI. What though far off, from some dark dell espied And frequent round him rolls his sullen eyes, If chance his savage wrath may some weak wretch surprise. * First written, gloom. + First written, afflicted. § First written, sad. |