Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
193
AN EPILOGUE, To the MUSE of OSSIAN.
In fond romance let fancy reign creative!
Valour among the northern hills is native;
The northern hills, 'tis prov'd by Ossian's story,
Gave early birth to Caledonian glory;
Nor could the stormy clime, with all its rigour
Repel, in love or war, the hero's vigour.
Valour among the northern hills is native;
The northern hills, 'tis prov'd by Ossian's story,
Gave early birth to Caledonian glory;
Nor could the stormy clime, with all its rigour
Repel, in love or war, the hero's vigour.
When honour call'd, the youth disdain'd to ponder,
And as he fought, the fav'rite maid grew fonder.
The brave, by beauty were rejected never,
For girls are gracious when the lads are clever.
And as he fought, the fav'rite maid grew fonder.
The brave, by beauty were rejected never,
For girls are gracious when the lads are clever.
If the bold youth was in the field vindictive,
The bard, at home, had ev'ry power descriptive;
He swell'd the sacred song, enhanc'd the story,
And rais'd the warrior to the skies of glory.
The bard, at home, had ev'ry power descriptive;
He swell'd the sacred song, enhanc'd the story,
And rais'd the warrior to the skies of glory.
194
That northern lads are still unconquer'd fellows,
The foes of Britain to their cost can tell us;
The sway of northern beauty, if disputed,
Look round, ye infidels, and stand confuted:
And for your bards, the letter'd world have known 'em,
They're such—The sacred Ossian can't disown 'em.
The foes of Britain to their cost can tell us;
The sway of northern beauty, if disputed,
Look round, ye infidels, and stand confuted:
And for your bards, the letter'd world have known 'em,
They're such—The sacred Ossian can't disown 'em.
To prove a partial judgement does not wrong you,
And that your usual candour reigns among you,
Look with indulgence on this crude endeavour,
And stamp it with the sanction of your favour.
And that your usual candour reigns among you,
Look with indulgence on this crude endeavour,
And stamp it with the sanction of your favour.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |