The Highlanders, and other poems By Mrs. Grant, Laggan. Second edition |
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TO MISS WALLIS,
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 | The Highlanders, and other poems |  |
190
TO MISS WALLIS,
WITH A SPRIG OF CRIMSON HEATH WHICH GREW ON THE SUMMIT OF A MOUNTAIN.
Those looks demure that deeply touch the soul,
Where, with the light of thoughtful Reason join'd,
Shine lively fancy, and the feeling heart.
THOMSON.
Where, with the light of thoughtful Reason join'd,
Shine lively fancy, and the feeling heart.
THOMSON.
Muse that lov'st the lonely mountain,
Cliff abrupt, and rocky glen,
Rushy dell, and mossy fountain,
Free from strife, and far from men:
Cliff abrupt, and rocky glen,
Rushy dell, and mossy fountain,
Free from strife, and far from men:
Muse that lov'st to worship Nature
In her haunts sublimely wild,
Hail the maid whose every feature
Speaks her Nature's darling child.
In her haunts sublimely wild,
Hail the maid whose every feature
Speaks her Nature's darling child.
Nurs'd on Inspiration's bosom,
Dress'd by meek Simplicity,
She in youth's luxuriant blossom
Truth and Nature loves like thee.
Dress'd by meek Simplicity,
She in youth's luxuriant blossom
Truth and Nature loves like thee.
191
Deck'd with chaste and artless graces,
While her form adorns the stage,
Fancy pleas'd recals the traces
Of a former, better age;
While her form adorns the stage,
Fancy pleas'd recals the traces
Of a former, better age;
When the virgin's sweet suffusion,
Timid look, and modest air,
Gentle fears, and soft confusion,
Shrunk before the public stare.
Timid look, and modest air,
Gentle fears, and soft confusion,
Shrunk before the public stare.
'Tis not that thy tragic sister
Wraps her in her crimson stole,
Or that comic powers assist her,
While she fascinates the soul.
Wraps her in her crimson stole,
Or that comic powers assist her,
While she fascinates the soul.
'Tis not that applausive thunder
Shakes the scene when she appears,
That she draws the gaze of wonder,
And unlocks the spring of tears:
Shakes the scene when she appears,
That she draws the gaze of wonder,
And unlocks the spring of tears:
'Tis not that capricious fashion
Hails her idol of the day;
But that general adulation
O'er her breast obtains no sway.
Hails her idol of the day;
But that general adulation
O'er her breast obtains no sway.
That the charities and duties
Which domestic life endear,
Add new lustre to her beauties,
Even in wisdom's view severe.
Which domestic life endear,
Add new lustre to her beauties,
Even in wisdom's view severe.
192
Lovely Wallis, these are graces
That awake the Muse's flame;
And to these sequester'd places
Have convey'd thy honour'd name.
That awake the Muse's flame;
And to these sequester'd places
Have convey'd thy honour'd name.
Pattern bright of filial duty,
Kindest sister, truest friend,
On thy innocence and beauty
Still may guardian sylphs attend!
Kindest sister, truest friend,
On thy innocence and beauty
Still may guardian sylphs attend!
Keep and wear this crimson blossom,
Place it near thy generous heart,
'Tis a charm that from thy bosom
Can repel detraction's dart.
Place it near thy generous heart,
'Tis a charm that from thy bosom
Can repel detraction's dart.
On yon mountain's summit aerial,
Far above the clouds it grew,
Fann'd by purest gales ethereal,
Fed by bright celestial dew.
Far above the clouds it grew,
Fann'd by purest gales ethereal,
Fed by bright celestial dew.
No voluptuous scents exhaling,
Deck'd with no luxurious dye,
Fiercest storms in vain assailing,
Blooming midst the wintry sky.
Deck'd with no luxurious dye,
Fiercest storms in vain assailing,
Blooming midst the wintry sky.
Type of virtue's wreaths victorious,
Flowering on the craggy height,
Those who mount with ardour glorious
Pay their labour with delight.
Flowering on the craggy height,
Those who mount with ardour glorious
Pay their labour with delight.
| The Highlanders, and other poems | |