 | Poems on several subjects |  |
On the City of DUNDEE.
Near where the Tay joins with the ocean wide,
Dundee's fair harbour stands on its north side,
Where ships of burden safely can repose,
While billows rise, and loudest tempest blows.
Dundee's fair harbour stands on its north side,
Where ships of burden safely can repose,
While billows rise, and loudest tempest blows.
The ancient city, fam'd for arms and arts,
Parent of many that have shown their parts,
Nothing inferior to the world abroad;
Such to this city is the gift of God.
Parent of many that have shown their parts,
Nothing inferior to the world abroad;
Such to this city is the gift of God.
Dundee is peopled with a prudent race
Of wealthy traders, that enrich the place;
To strangers kind, and hospitably good,
With manly virtues almost all endu'd.
Of wealthy traders, that enrich the place;
To strangers kind, and hospitably good,
With manly virtues almost all endu'd.
Where ancient buildings were by time defac'd,
More spacious new ones in their rooms are plac'd:
An ancient steeple rears its head on high,
O'erlooks the town, and penetrates the sky;
Strangers admire, when it afar they spy.
A new town-house, much like a palace fair;
None of its kind can with it once compare:
Their care and prudence did of old provide
An hospital for those that are decay'd;
Two ancient churches, decently decor'd
With all utensils necessar well stor'd.
More spacious new ones in their rooms are plac'd:
An ancient steeple rears its head on high,
O'erlooks the town, and penetrates the sky;
Strangers admire, when it afar they spy.
A new town-house, much like a palace fair;
None of its kind can with it once compare:
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An hospital for those that are decay'd;
Two ancient churches, decently decor'd
With all utensils necessar well stor'd.
Accommodations they have many now,
Which their ancestors ne'er so much as knew:
The water-works that turneth as they please
To quench with speed the flames devouring bleeze;
Lamps in the streets that give a splendid light,
Whereby we walk safe in the darkest night;
An ancient spring, whose streams long useless stray'd,
In leaden conduits now are all convey'd
From street to street, the cities multitude
By them's supplied with water fresh and good.
Which their ancestors ne'er so much as knew:
The water-works that turneth as they please
To quench with speed the flames devouring bleeze;
Lamps in the streets that give a splendid light,
Whereby we walk safe in the darkest night;
An ancient spring, whose streams long useless stray'd,
In leaden conduits now are all convey'd
From street to street, the cities multitude
By them's supplied with water fresh and good.
But ancient things commodious and great,
Buildings and wealth, these ne'er secure the state.
Where's Babel, Troy, and fam'd Jerusalem?
There's scarce a vestige to be found of them;
For pride and lust, and wretch'd idolatry,
Bloodshed and rapine, and proud tyranny,
Long since have made them in oblivion ly.
Buildings and wealth, these ne'er secure the state.
Where's Babel, Troy, and fam'd Jerusalem?
There's scarce a vestige to be found of them;
For pride and lust, and wretch'd idolatry,
Bloodshed and rapine, and proud tyranny,
Long since have made them in oblivion ly.
But, lo! Dundee's fam'd citizens have been,
Thro' ages past, for virtuous actions keen:
Their fervent zeal for pure religion shin'd,
And left the rest of Scotland far behind,
And with the work of reformation join'd.
Thro' ages past, for virtuous actions keen:
Their fervent zeal for pure religion shin'd,
And left the rest of Scotland far behind,
And with the work of reformation join'd.
Here virgin beauties, with such lustre shine,
That ev'ry charm about them seems divine:
That ev'ry charm about them seems divine:
Here virtuous matrons, chastly fix'd in love,
That to their husbands helps and comforts prove:
That to their husbands helps and comforts prove:
Here men of learning, honour and renown,
In ev'ry age, have grac'd this ancient town:
In ev'ry age, have grac'd this ancient town:
Hail, ancient city! citizens, all hail!
May ne'er your grandeur, wealth and honours fail!
Thy trade still prosper both by sea and land!
What-e'er you wish be still at your command!
Let your religion flourish still in thee,
Thy greatest glory since thou wast Dundee!
May ne'er your grandeur, wealth and honours fail!
Thy trade still prosper both by sea and land!
What-e'er you wish be still at your command!
Let your religion flourish still in thee,
Thy greatest glory since thou wast Dundee!
| Poems on several subjects | |