Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock Together with an Essay on the Education of the Blind. To Which is Prefixed A New Account of the Life and Writings of the Author |
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A PASTORAL SONG. |
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 | Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock |  |
A PASTORAL SONG.
Sandy, the gay, the blooming swain,
Had lang frae love been free;
Lang made ilk heart that fill'd the plain
Dance quick with harmless glee.
Had lang frae love been free;
Lang made ilk heart that fill'd the plain
Dance quick with harmless glee.
As blythsome lambs that scour the green,
His mind was unconstrain'd;
Nae face could ever fix his een,
Nae sang his ear detain'd.
His mind was unconstrain'd;
Nae face could ever fix his een,
Nae sang his ear detain'd.
Ah! luckless youth! a short-liv'd joy
Thy cruel fates decree;
Fell tods shall on thy lambkins prey,
And love mair fell on thee.
Thy cruel fates decree;
Fell tods shall on thy lambkins prey,
And love mair fell on thee.
71
'Twas e'er the sun exhal'd the dew,
Ae morn of chearful May,
Forth Girzy walk'd, the flow'rs to view,
A flow'r mair sweet than they!
Ae morn of chearful May,
Forth Girzy walk'd, the flow'rs to view,
A flow'r mair sweet than they!
Like sunbeams sheen her waving locks;
Her een like stars were bright;
The rose lent blushes to her cheek;
The lily purest white.
Her een like stars were bright;
The rose lent blushes to her cheek;
The lily purest white.
Jimp was her waist, like some tall pine
That keeps the woods in awe;
Her limbs like iv'ry columns turn'd,
Her breasts like hills of snaw.
That keeps the woods in awe;
Her limbs like iv'ry columns turn'd,
Her breasts like hills of snaw.
Her robe around her loosely thrown,
Gave to the shepherd's een
What fearless innocence would show;
The rest was all unseen.
Gave to the shepherd's een
What fearless innocence would show;
The rest was all unseen.
He fix'd his look, he sigh'd, he quak'd,
His colour went and came;
Dark grew his een, his ears resound,
His breast was all on flame.
His colour went and came;
Dark grew his een, his ears resound,
His breast was all on flame.
Nae mair yon glen repeats his sang,
He jokes and smiles nae mair;
Unplaited now his cravat hung,
Undrest his chesnut hair.
He jokes and smiles nae mair;
Unplaited now his cravat hung,
Undrest his chesnut hair.
72
To him how lang the shortest night!
How dark the brightest day!
Till, with the slow consuming fire,
His life was worn away.
How dark the brightest day!
Till, with the slow consuming fire,
His life was worn away.
Far, far frae shepherds and their flocks,
Opprest with care, he lean'd;
And, in a mirky, beachen shade,
To hills and dales thus plean'd:
Opprest with care, he lean'd;
And, in a mirky, beachen shade,
To hills and dales thus plean'd:
“At length, my wayward heart, return,
Too far, alas! astray:
Say, whence you caught that bitter smart,
Which works me such decay.
Too far, alas! astray:
Say, whence you caught that bitter smart,
Which works me such decay.
Ay me! 'twas Love, 'twas Girzy's charms,
That first began my woes;
Could he sae saft, or she sae fair,
Prove such relentless foes?
That first began my woes;
Could he sae saft, or she sae fair,
Prove such relentless foes?
Fierce winter nips the sweetest flower;
Keen lightning rives the tree;
Bleak mildew taints the fairest crop,
And love has blasted me.
Keen lightning rives the tree;
Bleak mildew taints the fairest crop,
And love has blasted me.
Sagacious hounds the foxes chace;
The tender lambkins they;
Lambs follow close their mother ewes,
And ewes the blooms of May.
The tender lambkins they;
Lambs follow close their mother ewes,
And ewes the blooms of May.
73
Sith a' that live, with a' their might,
Some dear delight pursue;
Cease, ruthless maid! to scorn the heart
That only pants for you.
Some dear delight pursue;
Cease, ruthless maid! to scorn the heart
That only pants for you.
Alas! for griefs, to her unken'd,
What pity can I gain?
And should she ken, yet love refuse,
Could that redress my pain?
What pity can I gain?
And should she ken, yet love refuse,
Could that redress my pain?
Come, death, my wan, my frozen bride,
Ah! close those wearied eyes:
But death the happy still pursues,
Still from the wretched flies.
Ah! close those wearied eyes:
But death the happy still pursues,
Still from the wretched flies.
Could wealth avail; what wealth is mine
Her high-born mind to bend?
Her's are those wide delightful plains,
And her's the flocks I tend.
Her high-born mind to bend?
Her's are those wide delightful plains,
And her's the flocks I tend.
What tho', whene'er I tun'd my pipe,
Glad fairies heard the sound,
And, clad in freshest April green,
Aft tript the circle round:
Glad fairies heard the sound,
And, clad in freshest April green,
Aft tript the circle round:
Break, landward clown, thy dinsome reed,
And brag thy skill nae mair:
Can aught that gies na Girzy joy,
Be worth thy lightest care?
And brag thy skill nae mair:
Can aught that gies na Girzy joy,
Be worth thy lightest care?
74
Adieu! ye harmless, sportive flocks!
Who now your lives shall guard?
Adieu! my faithful dog, who oft
The pleasing vigil shar'd:
Who now your lives shall guard?
Adieu! my faithful dog, who oft
The pleasing vigil shar'd:
Adieu! ye plains, and light, anes sweet,
Now painful to my view:
Adieu to life; and thou, mair dear,
Who caus'd my death; adieu!
Now painful to my view:
Adieu to life; and thou, mair dear,
Who caus'd my death; adieu!
| Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock | |