 | Metrical Effusions |  |
216
CALEDONIE.
Sweet are Italia's flowery plains,
Where Mantuan shepherds pour'd their strains;
But more enchanting beauty reigns
In smiling Caledonie.
Where Mantuan shepherds pour'd their strains;
But more enchanting beauty reigns
In smiling Caledonie.
Though lovely Gallia's lily blows,
And gaily blooms proud England's rose,
Fearless and brave thy thistle grows,
Stern, hardy Caledonie!
And gaily blooms proud England's rose,
Fearless and brave thy thistle grows,
Stern, hardy Caledonie!
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Though Tiber's banks proud Fame resound,
Though Seine and Avon be renown'd;
As clear, as lovely streams are found
Gliding through Caledonie.
Though Seine and Avon be renown'd;
As clear, as lovely streams are found
Gliding through Caledonie.
Who has not heard of Teviot's fame?
Of Tweed's, of Ayr's, of Lugar's name?
Long shall their braes exulting claim
The song of Caledonie.
Of Tweed's, of Ayr's, of Lugar's name?
Long shall their braes exulting claim
The song of Caledonie.
Why talk of Andes' giant height,
Or fiery Etna's dazzling light,
When many a mountain greets the sight
In good old Caledonie?
Or fiery Etna's dazzling light,
When many a mountain greets the sight
In good old Caledonie?
Ben Lomond, bursting on the sky,
Benledi's ridgy summit high,
And Benvenue attract the eye,
Towering in Caledonie!
Benledi's ridgy summit high,
And Benvenue attract the eye,
Towering in Caledonie!
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E'en now within those mountains' bound
Whose cliffs on haughty Edward frown'd,
A brave and hardy race are found,
The pride of Caledonie.
Whose cliffs on haughty Edward frown'd,
A brave and hardy race are found,
The pride of Caledonie.
Men, in whose proud indignant ire
Burns unsubdued that patriot fire,
Which prompted Wallace to expire
With joy for Caledonie.
Burns unsubdued that patriot fire,
Which prompted Wallace to expire
With joy for Caledonie.
Still pure, unsullied flows that blood
Which dyed of yore in purple flood
The field of Bannockburn, where stood
A Bruce for Caledonie.
Which dyed of yore in purple flood
The field of Bannockburn, where stood
A Bruce for Caledonie.
And still survive those softer charms,
Which, when the warrior doff'd his arms,
Amply repaid for war's alarms
The sons of Caledonie.
Which, when the warrior doff'd his arms,
Amply repaid for war's alarms
The sons of Caledonie.
219
While Poesy, whose lore refin'd
At once instructs and charms the mind,
Indulgent marks with aspect kind
Her favorite Caledonie;
At once instructs and charms the mind,
Indulgent marks with aspect kind
Her favorite Caledonie;
And though in every land she sways
Her sceptre, and her power displays;
She pours her brightest, strongest blaze
Of light on Caledonie.
Her sceptre, and her power displays;
She pours her brightest, strongest blaze
Of light on Caledonie.
There, soaring high above a crowd
Of Poets with each grace endow'd
Shines Burns, conspicuous, peerless, proud,
The Bard of Caledonie!
Of Poets with each grace endow'd
Shines Burns, conspicuous, peerless, proud,
The Bard of Caledonie!
Unrivall'd Poet! o'er thy grave
Shall bloom the wreath which Coila gave;
And mournful in the breeze shall wave
Thy thistle, Caledonie.
Shall bloom the wreath which Coila gave;
And mournful in the breeze shall wave
Thy thistle, Caledonie.
220
Though bursting on the dazzl'd sight,
Thy genius, like some meteor bright
Effulgent blaz'd, then sunk in night;
Yet still shall Caledonie
Thy genius, like some meteor bright
Effulgent blaz'd, then sunk in night;
Yet still shall Caledonie
O'er all thy crimes and follies weep:
And mourn, in anguish proud and deep,
That, all unstrung, should idly sleep
The Lyre of Caledonie.
And mourn, in anguish proud and deep,
That, all unstrung, should idly sleep
The Lyre of Caledonie.
Short slumber; for by fancy fir'd
By feats of Border chiefs inspir'd,
Scott now invokes, with zeal untir'd,
The muse of Caledonie.
By feats of Border chiefs inspir'd,
Scott now invokes, with zeal untir'd,
The muse of Caledonie.
Of peerless maids in beauty's prime,
Of knighthood's dauntless deeds sublime,
Of tales which charm'd in olden time
The ear of Caledonie
Of knighthood's dauntless deeds sublime,
Of tales which charm'd in olden time
The ear of Caledonie
221
The minstrel sings: with fond delight,
Enraptur'd fancy wings her flight
To feudal days, ere Albion's might
Had conquer'd Caledonie.
Enraptur'd fancy wings her flight
To feudal days, ere Albion's might
Had conquer'd Caledonie.
But dares my trembling hand to stray
Those cords along, whence rose the Lay
Of Chivalry's unclouded day,
Sacred to Caledonie?
Those cords along, whence rose the Lay
Of Chivalry's unclouded day,
Sacred to Caledonie?
Vain, vain the task! like morning dew,
As bright, as clear, as transient too,
The vision fades—A long adieu
To bonnie Caledonie.
As bright, as clear, as transient too,
The vision fades—A long adieu
To bonnie Caledonie.
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