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The Poetical Works of David Macbeth Moir

Edited by Thomas Aird: With A Memoir of the Author
Moir, D. M. (1798-1851)

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[section]
collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I.
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DOMESTIC VERSES.
  
[epigraph]
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SONNETS ON THE SCENERY OF THE TWEED;
  
[As we had been in heart, now link'd in hand]
 I. 
I. WARK CASTLE.
 II. 
II. DRYBURGH ABBEY.
  
III. MELROSE ABBEY.
 IV. 
IV. ABBOTSFORD.
 V. 
V. NIDPATH CASTLE.
 VI. 
VI. “THE BUSH ABOON TRAQUAIR.”
  
TO MY INFANT DAUGHTER, E. C. M.
  
CASA WAPPY.
  
WEE WILLIE.
  
CASA'S DIRGE.
  
ELEGIAC STANZAS.
  
THE LOST LAMB.
  
TO THE BUST OF MY SON CHARLES.
  
SONNET.
  
VICISSITUDE.
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ELEGIAC EFFUSIONS.
  
THE BOWER OF PEACE.
  
WEEP NOT FOR HER.
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THE FOWLER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
  
THE DESERTED CHURCHYARD.
  
TO A WOOD-PIGEON.
  
THE YELLOW LEAF.
  
THE DYING SPANIEL.
  
EVENING TRANQUILLITY.
  
HYMN TO HESPERUS.
  
FADED FLOWERS.
  
THE NIGHT HAWK.
  
STARLIGHT REFLECTIONS.
  
TO A WOUNDED PTARMIGAN.
  
THE CHILD'S BURIAL IN SPRING.
  
SPRING HYMN.
  
OCTOBER—A SKETCH.
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POEMS ON FLOWERS.
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THE BIRTH OF THE FLOWERS.
  
[section]
 XX. 
XX.
  
RHODOCLEA'S GARLAND.
  
THE EGLANTINE.
  
THE WHITE ROSE.
  
LILIES.
  
THE HAREBELL.
  
THE WALL-FLOWER.
  
THE DAISY.
  
THE SWEET-BRIAR.
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POEMS SUGGESTED BY CELEBRATED SCOTTISH LOCALITIES.
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THE TOWER OF ERCILDOUNE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
  
THE GLEN OF ROSLIN.
  
THE TOMB OF DE BRUCE.
  
FLODDEN FIELD.
  
THE FIELD OF PINKIE.
  
HAWTHORNDEN.
  
THE RUINS OF SETON CHAPEL.
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LINES IN THE PARK OF KELBURN CASTLE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
  
THE THORN OF PRESTON.
  
THE BASS ROCK.
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THOMSON'S BIRTH-PLACE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
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VOL. II.
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OCCASIONAL POEMS.
  
A SHADOW OF TRUTH.
  
STANZAS FOR THE BURNS FESTIVAL.
  
STANZAS,
  
SONG, FOR THE
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SONNETS.
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SONNETS ON THE SCENERY OF THE ESK.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
  
MOONLIGHT CHURCHYARD.
  
TO WORDSWORTH.
  
TO THE MUSE OF MILTON.
  
RURAL SCENERY.
  
CRICHTON CHAPEL.
  
WINTER.
  
THE SCOTTISH SABBATH.
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POEMS IN REFERENCE TO CHILDHOOD.
  
STANZAS ON AN INFANT.
  
THE EARLY LOST.
  
ADDRESS TO LITTLE CHILDREN.
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ECHOES OF ANTIQUITY.
  
THE MESSAGE OF SETH.
  
HIPPOCRATES TO THE AMBASSADORS OF ARTAXERXES.
  
THE LEGEND OF ST ROSALIE.
  
THE BURDEN OF SION.
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SONGS.
  
SONG OF THE SOUTH.
  
FAREWELL OUR FATHERS' LAND.
  
MOURN FOR THE BRAVE.
  
ERIC'S DIRGE.
  
THE STORMY SEA.
  
THE MAID OF ULVA.
  
LAMENT FOR MACRIMMON.
  
HEIGH-HO!
  
THE WANDERER OF CONNAUGHT.
  
MARY DHU.
  
THE RUSTIC LAD'S LAMENT IN THE TOWN.
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BALLADS.
  
THE CAMPEADOR'S SPECTRE HOST.
  
THE HIGHLANDER'S RETURN.
  
WIZZERDE WYNKIN'S DETHE.
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TALES.
  
DE QUINCEY'S REVENGE.
  
THE MINER OF PERU.
  
SIR ELIDUC.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
  
THE OLD SEAPORT.
  
THE CONTADINA.
  
THE WINTER WILD.
  
THE DEFEAT OF WINTER.
  
MAY-DAY.
  
AN EVENING SKETCH.
  
ON THE DEATH OF IDA.
  
OUR NATIVE LAND.
  
BLOOM AND BLIGHT.
  
MINE OWN.
  
THE IMPROVISATRICE.
  
CHRISTMAS MUSINGS.
  
LINES ON A PORTRAIT OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, BY C. R. LESLIE, ESQ., R.A.
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THE GRAVES OF THE DEAD.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
  
THE BARD'S WISH.
  
THE LAMENT OF SELIM.
  
THE DARK WAGGON.
  
DISENCHANTMENT.
  
THE SYCAMINE.
  
THE COVENANTERS' NIGHT-HYMN.
  
REQUIEM.
  
THE MATIN CAROL.
  
STANZAS. WHEN THOU AT EVENTIDE ART ROAMING.
  
REMEMBERED BEAUTY.
  
THE VETERAN TAR.
  
THE RUINED NUNNERY.
  
THE HOUR OF THOUGHT.
  
TO INEZ, IN ABSENCE.
  
TO INEZ, IN REMEMBRANCE.
  
TO INEZ, IN LAMENT.
  
HYMN TO THE MOON.
  
MELANCHOLY.
  
THE UNKNOWN GRAVE.
  
DESPONDENCY. A REVERIE.
  
THE ANGLER.
  
THE TOMBLESS MAN. A DREAM.
  
LINES WRITTEN IN THE ISLE OF BUTE.
  
HYMN TO THE NIGHT WIND.
  
THE SNOW.
  
THE CASTLE OF TIME. A VISION.

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11

VI. “THE BUSH ABOON TRAQUAIR.”

As speaks the sea-shell from the window-sill
Of cottage-home, far inland, to the soul
Of the bronzed veteran, till he hears the roll
Of ocean 'mid its islands chafing still;
As speaks the love-gift to the lonely heart
Of her, whose hopes are buried in the grave
Of him, whom tears, prayer, passion could not save,
And Fate but link'd, that Death might tear apart,—
So speaks the ancient melody of thee,
Green “Bush aboon Traquair,” that from the steep
O'erhang'st the Tweed—until, mayhap afar,
In realms beyond the separating sea,
The plaided Exile, 'neath the Evening Star,
Thinking of Scotland, scarce forbears to weep!

The charming pastoral air, called “The Bonny Bush aboon Traquair,” is of great antiquity—indeed, is considered one of the very oldest which has come down to us; but the original words have been long since lost. The verses to which the melody was afterwards adapted, and to which it is now sung, were the composition of Crauford, the author of “Tweedside,” and other popular songs, and first appeared in the Orpheus Caledonius, 1725. Along with “The Flowers of the Forest,” “The Broom of the Cowden-knowes,” “Polwarth on the Green,” “Fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lee,” and others indigenous to the south of Scotland, it may be adduced as a specimen of what Wordsworth so beautifully designates, the

—“Old songs,
The precious music of the heart.”

A few solitary scraggy trees, on a slope overlooking the lawn of Traquair House, mark out the site of the ancient “Bush.” Not far distant from these a clump has been planted, which is called “The New Bush.” But the spell is untranslateable.


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