There, where a sceptr'd Pictish shade* In colours strong; Bold, soldier-featur'd, undismay'd They strode along. Thro' many a wild, romantic grove,† An aged judge, I saw him rove, Dispensing good. With deep-struck reverential awe‡ To Nature's God and Nature's law They gave their lore, This, all its source and end to draw; That, to adore. * 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 Coils-field, where his burial-place is still shown. Barskimming, the seat of the late Lord Justice-Clerk (Sir Thomas Miller of Glenlee, afterwards President of the Court of Session.) Catrine, the seat of Professor Dugald Stewart. Brydone's brave ward* I well could spy, Who call'd on Fame, low standing by, Where many a patriot-name on high And hero shone. DUAN SECOND. WITH musing-deep, astonish'd stare, Of kindred sweet, When with an elder sister's air She did me greet. "All hail! my own inspired bard! I come to give thee such reward As we bestow. Colonel Fullarton. "Know, the great genius of this land Who, all beneath his high command, As arts or arms they understand, Their labours ply. 66 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, The tuneful art. 'Mong swelling floods of reeking gore, They, ardent, kindling spirits, pour; Or, 'mid the venal senate's 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 sceptic's bays. "To lower orders are assign'd 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 soothe the lab'rer's weary toil, For humble gains, And make his cottage-scenes beguile His cares and pains. "Some, bounded to a district-space, Explore at large man's infant race, To mark the embryotic trace Of rustic bard; And careful note each op'ning grace, "Of these am I-Coila my name; And this district as mine I claim, 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, Of other times. “I saw thee seek the sounding shore, Delighted with the dashing roar; Or when the north his fleecy store Drove through the sky, I saw grim nature's visage hoar Struck thy young eye. |