There, where a sceptr'd Pictish shade*
Stalk'd round his ashes lowly laid,
I mark'd a martial race, portray'd

In colours strong;

Bold, soldier-featur'd, undismay'd

They strode along.

Thro' many a wild, romantic grove,†
Near many a hermit-fancy'd cove,
(Fit haunts for friendship or for love,)
In musing mood,

An aged judge, I saw him rove,

Dispensing good.

With deep-struck reverential awe‡
The learned sire and son I saw,

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,
Beneath old Scotia's smiling eye;

Who call'd on Fame, low standing by,
To hand him on,

Where many a patriot-name on high

And hero shone.

DUAN SECOND.

WITH musing-deep, astonish'd stare,
I view'd the heav'nly-seeming fair;
A whisp'ring throb did witness bear

Of kindred sweet,

When with an elder sister's air

She did me greet.

"All hail! my own inspired bard!
In me thy native Muse regard!
Nor longer mourn thy fate is hard,
Thus poorly low!

I come to give thee such reward

As we bestow.

Colonel Fullarton.

"Know, the great genius of this land
Has many a light, aerial band,

Who, all beneath his high command,
Harmoniously,

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
The humbler ranks of human-kind,
The rustic bard, the lab'ring hind,
The artisan;

All choose, as various they're inclin'd
The various man.

"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,
Blythe o'er the hill.

"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,
A guide and guard.

"Of these am I-Coila my name;

And this district as mine I claim,
Where once the Campbells, chiefs of fame,
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,

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.