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Lays of the Highlands and Islands

By John Stuart Blackie
Blackie, John Stuart (1809-1895)

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE BARONESS BURDETT COUTTS.
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IONA.
  
THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBA.
  
THE DEATH OF COLUMBA.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
I.THE TOURISTS.
 II. 
II.THE ROYAL SAINT.
 III. 
III.THE LORD'S DAY IN IONA.
 IV. 
IV.MOONLIGHT.
 V. 
V.THE BOULDER.
 VI. 
VI.THE DISAPPOINTED TOURIST.
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MULL.
  
A PSALM OF BEN MORE.
  
THE DUKE'S RETREAT.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
I.BEN TEALLADH.
 II. 
II.LOCH BAA.
 III. 
III.LOCH BAA: AGAIN.
 IV. 
IV.FAREWELL TO LOCH BAA.
 V. 
V.BEN GREIG.
 VI. 
VI.MULL WEATHER.
  
THE RUINED CLACHAN.
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SKYE.
  
BLAVEN.
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ORKNEY.
  
THE OLD MAN OF HOY.
  
THE DEATH OF HACO.
  
STENNIS. I.
  
STENNIS. II.
  
MAESHOW.
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SHETLAND
  
BURRA FIORD.
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ARGYLLSHIRE.
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GLENCOE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
IKING'S HOUSE INN.
 II. 
IIMOONLIGHT AT KING'S HOUSE.
 III. 
IIITO AN OLD LEAFLESS TREE ON THE MOOR, NEAR KING'S HOUSE.
 IV. 
IVTHE BUCHAILL ETIVE.
  
SONG OF BEN CRUACHAN.
  
THE ASCENT OF CRUACHAN.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
ION THE MONUMENT TO NELSON AT TAYNUILT.
 II. 
IIBEN CRUACHAN IN A DARK EVENING.
 III. 
IIIJOHN BRIGHT AT TAYNUILT.
 IV. 
IV.JOHN BRIGHT AT TAYNUILT.
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OBAN.
  
HUMOURS OF HIGHLAND WEATHER.
  
A SEPTEMBER BLAST IN OBAN.
  
THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER IN OBAN.
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INVERNESS-SHIRE.
  
THE LAY OF THE BRAVE CAMERON.
  
FASSFEARN.
  
GLENFINNAN.
  
THE MONUMENT OF PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD, AT GLENFINNAN, LOCH SHIEL.
  
KINLOCH LEVEN.
  
KINLOCH MOIDART.
  
KINLOCH MOIDART.
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DUMBARTONSHIRE.
  
EDENDARACH.
  
ROB ROY'S CAVE.
  
ARDLUI: THE PULPIT ROCK.
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ROSS-SHIRE.
  
A PSALM OF LOCH DUICH.
  
TAIN: THE CHAPEL OF SAINT DUTHACH.
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SUTHERLANDSHIRE.
  
BONNIE STRATHNAVER.
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CAITHNESS.
  
JOHN O'GROAT'S HOUSE.
  
WICK: THE HERRING FISHERY.
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PERTHSHIRE.
  
LOCH RANNOCH.
  
LOCH RANNOCH MOOR.
  
AT LOCH ERICHT.
  
A SONG OF BEN LEDI.
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ABERDEENSHIRE.
  
BRAEMAR:
  
BEN MUICDHUI.
  
THE HIGHLANDER'S LAMENT.
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ARRAN.
  
GLEN ROSA.
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GENERAL.
  
BONNIE BLACKWATER.
  
HIGHLAND INNS.
  
THE HIGHLAND MINISTER.
  
THE HIGHLAND MANSE.
  
THE LADY WHO LOVES THE HIGHLANDS.
  
THE BOULDER.
  
SOLITUDE.
  
THE SONG OF THE HIGHLAND RIVER.

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HUMOURS OF HIGHLAND WEATHER.

Whither, O whither hath fled
The lightsome and lovely display
Of Beauty, but yesterday shed
On the crag, and the Ben, and the bay?
Up from the West came a cloud,
Small, but to greatness it grew,
Till it wove from its tissue a shroud
That curtains the breadth of the blue.
I look and I see in the far
Banners of darkness unfurl'd,
Volumes of dimness that mar
The smile on the face of the world:
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Gone into blankness hath fled
The emerald stretch of the glen,
And the rosy gleam on the head
Of the broad purpureal Ben.
Such are the humours that blot
The sky with the change of the year;
Would'st thou be mortal, and not
Temper thy bliss with a tear?
Would'st thou have day without night?
Ponder a moment, and own
That shadow must come with the light,
And day by the darkness be known.
Wisely the Mighty one blends
Gloom with the glory of things,
Grieving with gladness he sends
Wisely to beggars and kings.
Wisely he liveth who links
His life as a part to the whole,
Wisely he thinketh who thinks
Humbly, with hymns in his soul.
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