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The Poems of Robert Fergusson

Edited by Matthew P. McDiarmid

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CHORUS.

Or to the rushing waters tune their shells
To call up echo from the woods,
Or from the rocks or crystal floods,
Or from surrounding banks, or hills, or dales.

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When the cool fountains first their springs forsook,
Murmuring smoothly to the azure main,
Exulting Neptune then his trident shook,
And wav'd his waters gently to the plain.
The friendly Tritons on his chariot born,
With cheeks dilated blew the hollow-sounding horn.
Now Lothian and Fifan shores,
Resounding to the mermaids song,
Gladly emit their limpid stores,
And bid them smoothly sail along
To Neptune's empire, and with him to roll
Round the revolving sphere from pole to pole;
To guard Britannia from envious foes,
To view her angry vengeance hurl'd
In awful thunder round the world,
And trembling nations bending to her blows.