Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle Edited by Alexander Rodger |
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ROLL, FAIR CLUTHA. |
 | Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle |  |
173
ROLL, FAIR CLUTHA.
When Nature first, with mighty hand
Traced Clutha's windings to the main,
'Twas then the Genii of the land,
Assembled round, and sung this strain;
Traced Clutha's windings to the main,
'Twas then the Genii of the land,
Assembled round, and sung this strain;
‘Roll, fair Clutha, fair Clutha to the sea,
And be thy banks for ever free.’
And be thy banks for ever free.’
For on thy banks in future times,
A brave and virtuous race shall rise,
Strangers to those unmanly crimes,
That taint the tribes of warmer skies.
A brave and virtuous race shall rise,
Strangers to those unmanly crimes,
That taint the tribes of warmer skies.
‘Roll,’ &c.
And stately towns and cities fair,
Thy lovely shores shall decorate;
With seats of science, to prepare
Thy sons for all that's good and great.
Thy lovely shores shall decorate;
With seats of science, to prepare
Thy sons for all that's good and great.
‘Roll,’ &c.
And on thy pure translucent breast,
Shall numerous fleets majestic ride;
Destined to south, north, east, and west,
To waft thy treasures far and wide.
Shall numerous fleets majestic ride;
Destined to south, north, east, and west,
To waft thy treasures far and wide.
‘Roll,’ &c
174
And up thy gently sloping sides,
Shall woods o'er woods in grandeur tower;
Meet haunts for lovers and their brides,
To woo in many a sylvan bower.
Shall woods o'er woods in grandeur tower;
Meet haunts for lovers and their brides,
To woo in many a sylvan bower.
‘Roll,’ &c.
And early on each summer morn,
Thy youth shall bathe their limbs in thee;
Thence to their various toils return
With increased vigour, health, and glee.
Thy youth shall bathe their limbs in thee;
Thence to their various toils return
With increased vigour, health, and glee.
‘Roll,’ &c.
And still on summer evenings fair,
Shall groups of happy pairs be seen,
With hearts as light as birds of air,
A-straying o'er thy margin green.
Shall groups of happy pairs be seen,
With hearts as light as birds of air,
A-straying o'er thy margin green.
‘Roll,’ &c.
And oft the Bard by thee will stray,
When Luna's lamp illumes the sky,
Musing on some heart-melting lay,
Which fond hope tells him ne'er shall die.
When Luna's lamp illumes the sky,
Musing on some heart-melting lay,
Which fond hope tells him ne'er shall die.
‘Roll, fair Clutha, fair Clutha to the sea,
And be thy banks for ever free.
And be thy banks for ever free.
| Stray Leaves from the Portfolios of Alisander the Seer, Andrew Whaup, and Humphrey Henkeckle | |