177. Elegy on the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair
THE LAMP of day, with-ill presaging glare,
Dim, cloudy, sank beneath the western wave;
Th’ inconstant blast howl’d thro’ the dark’ning air,
And hollow whistled in the rocky cave.
Lone as I wander’d by each cliff and dell,
Once the lov’d haunts of Scotia’s royal train; 1
Or mus’d where limpid streams, once hallow’d well, 2
Or mould’ring ruins mark the sacred fane. 3
Th’ increasing blast roar’d round the beetling rocks,
The clouds swift-wing’d flew o’er the starry sky,
The groaning trees untimely shed their locks,
And shooting meteors caught the startled eye.
The paly moon rose in the livid east.
And ’mong the cliffs disclos’d a stately form
In weeds of woe, that frantic beat her breast,
And mix’d her wailings with the raving storm
Wild to my heart the filial pulses glow,
’Twas
Her form majestic droop’d in pensive woe,
The lightning of her eye in tears imbued.
Revers’d that spear, redoubtable in war,
Reclined that banner, erst in fields unfurl’d,
That like a deathful meteor gleam’d afar,
And brav’d the mighty monarchs of the world.
ВЂњMy patriot son fills an untimely grave! ”
With accents wild and lifted arms—she cried;
ВЂњLow lies the hand oft was stretch’d to save,
Low lies the heart that swell’d with honest pride.
ВЂњA weeping country joins a widow’s tear;
The helpless poor mix with the orphan’s cry;
The drooping arts surround their patron’s bier;
And grateful science heaves the heartfelt sigh!
ВЂњI saw my sons resume their ancient fire;
I saw fair Freedom’s
But ah! how hope is born but to expire!
Relentless fate has laid their guardian low.
ВЂњMy patriot falls: but shall he lie unsung,
While empty greatness saves a worthless name?
No; every muse shall join her tuneful tongue,
And future ages hear his growing fame.
ВЂњAnd I will join a mother’s tender cares,
Thro’ future times to make his virtues last;
That distant years may boast of other Blairs! ”—
She said, and vanish’d with the sweeping blast.
Note 1. The King’s Park at Holyrood House. —R. B. [back]
Note 2. St. Anthony’s well. —R. B. [back]
Note 3. St. Anthony’s Chapel. —R. B. [back]
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