 | Poems on several subjects |  |
SONG XX. The BANKS of TAY.
The banks of Air, and Ettrick banks,
Are sweetly sung among the fair;
The former sure deserves no thanks,
For Ettrick banks first gave the air.
Yet he who sings the banks of Air,
Brags proudly of his ancient braes,
As nothing with them could compare;
But Tay's sweet banks deserve the praise.
Are sweetly sung among the fair;
The former sure deserves no thanks,
For Ettrick banks first gave the air.
Yet he who sings the banks of Air,
Brags proudly of his ancient braes,
As nothing with them could compare;
But Tay's sweet banks deserve the praise.
44
The rapid river swiftly slides,
With pleasant murmurs, thro' the groves,
With famous woods on both its sides,
Where swains and nymphs disclose their loves;
With fertile fields and forests fair,
Adorn'd with gow'ny glens and braes,
That far surpass the banks of Air,
And more, by far, deserve the praise.
With pleasant murmurs, thro' the groves,
With famous woods on both its sides,
Where swains and nymphs disclose their loves;
With fertile fields and forests fair,
Adorn'd with gow'ny glens and braes,
That far surpass the banks of Air,
And more, by far, deserve the praise.
Both Dukes and Earls our banks do grace;
Lords ancient, famous of renown:
Here Royal CHARLES, of ancient race,
Receiv'd the sceptre, sword and crown.
Upon our banks there lives a Lord,
Whose title bears Broadalbion;
And Murrays, noble by renown,
A pillar of the British throne.
Lords ancient, famous of renown:
Here Royal CHARLES, of ancient race,
Receiv'd the sceptre, sword and crown.
Upon our banks there lives a Lord,
Whose title bears Broadalbion;
And Murrays, noble by renown,
A pillar of the British throne.
The Hays, an ancient warlike race,
Whose feats of arms have often been
With valour shewn in many a place,
In many bloody action seen.
When bold and proud insulting Danes,
Thought all our nation was their prey,
One made them leave the Scotian plains;
So valiant was that matchless Hay.
Whose feats of arms have often been
With valour shewn in many a place,
In many bloody action seen.
When bold and proud insulting Danes,
Thought all our nation was their prey,
One made them leave the Scotian plains;
So valiant was that matchless Hay.
The Drummonds too, of noble fame,
So honourable, great and brave,
Alliance to the crown they claim,
Upon our banks a lodging have,
Enclos'd with woods and gardens fair,
That ev'ry month smiles as 'twere May:
Blyth Mary walks with pleasure here,
And beautifies the banks of Tay.
So honourable, great and brave,
Alliance to the crown they claim,
Upon our banks a lodging have,
Enclos'd with woods and gardens fair,
That ev'ry month smiles as 'twere May:
Blyth Mary walks with pleasure here,
And beautifies the banks of Tay.
That ancient royal palace, Scoon,
Stands on the pleasant banks of Tay;
St Johnston, where you'll see the moon
On clock-work increase and decay.
Here trade and manners flourish fair;
Laws and religion equal sway;
Nor Irving's holms, nor banks of Air,
Can vie with our brave banks of Tay.
Stands on the pleasant banks of Tay;
St Johnston, where you'll see the moon
On clock-work increase and decay.
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Laws and religion equal sway;
Nor Irving's holms, nor banks of Air,
Can vie with our brave banks of Tay.
The Ogilvies, of high descent,
Sprung partly from Montgomery's race,
Whose valour Fame still represents
In that old song of Chevy-chase.
Kinnairds, true Scotsmen, much esteem'd
Among the brave, the great and gay;
They and the Ogilvies are deem'd
To beautify the banks of Tay.
Sprung partly from Montgomery's race,
Whose valour Fame still represents
In that old song of Chevy-chase.
Kinnairds, true Scotsmen, much esteem'd
Among the brave, the great and gay;
They and the Ogilvies are deem'd
To beautify the banks of Tay.
The Lyons, an heroic race,
Whose castle bears their famous name,
A beautiful and lovely place,
Of regular and comely frame.
Their wide extent of fame and state,
Takes in that spacious plain Strathmore;
Here on our banks, among the great,
They share of noble fame and pow'r.
Whose castle bears their famous name,
A beautiful and lovely place,
Of regular and comely frame.
Their wide extent of fame and state,
Takes in that spacious plain Strathmore;
Here on our banks, among the great,
They share of noble fame and pow'r.
The Grays upon our banks do shine,
With splendid glories, worthy fame;
But oh! my Muse, I want engine
To scance upon the ancient name.
Let Fame in annals represent
The actions of the noble Gray;
And Heav'n guard those that resident
Here on the pleasant banks of Tay.
With splendid glories, worthy fame;
But oh! my Muse, I want engine
To scance upon the ancient name.
Let Fame in annals represent
The actions of the noble Gray;
And Heav'n guard those that resident
Here on the pleasant banks of Tay.
The Douglases, whose ancestors brave,
Shine brightly in records of fame,
Upon our banks a title have,
That adds a glory to the fame.
Here stands the city of Dundee,
Where navigation flourish fair,
Religion, trade and fishery,
Surpassing far the town of Air.
Shine brightly in records of fame,
Upon our banks a title have,
That adds a glory to the fame.
Here stands the city of Dundee,
Where navigation flourish fair,
Religion, trade and fishery,
Surpassing far the town of Air.
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Here Macer, Lindsay, Wedderburn,
Et cætera, knights of high renown,
The banks of Tay they much adorn
With many famous tow'r and town.
The Fyfes and Crawfoords, worthy Grahams,
Brave Scotsmen, all deserving praise,
Tay's banks can boast of nobler themes
Than Ettrick, Air, or Irving's lays.
Et cætera, knights of high renown,
The banks of Tay they much adorn
With many famous tow'r and town.
The Fyfes and Crawfoords, worthy Grahams,
Brave Scotsmen, all deserving praise,
Tay's banks can boast of nobler themes
Than Ettrick, Air, or Irving's lays.
What brisker lads, more lovely swains,
Than on the banks of Tay abide?
The fairest nymphs sure here remain
That's in the universe so wide.
All sorts of grain our banks produce,
With store of fruits and gardens fair,
What's necessary for man's use,
Excelling far the banks of Air.
Than on the banks of Tay abide?
The fairest nymphs sure here remain
That's in the universe so wide.
All sorts of grain our banks produce,
With store of fruits and gardens fair,
What's necessary for man's use,
Excelling far the banks of Air.
| Poems on several subjects | |