 | Lyrical Poems |  |
88
ELLISLAND.
—The farm of Ellisland, occupied by Burns before he took up the gauger trade, lies on the west bank of the Nith, about six miles north of Dumfries. The whole country is passing beautiful, and well worthy of more frequent visits than it receives from our English tourists. To them, also, I recommend a trip into the neighbouring counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigton, districts full of unfrequented and unsuspected beauty.
Fair Ellisland, thou dearest spot
On Scottish soil to each true Scot,
With wood and stream, and shining cot,
Thy beauty sways me,
And love is rash—O blame me not,
If I shall praise thee!
On Scottish soil to each true Scot,
With wood and stream, and shining cot,
Thy beauty sways me,
And love is rash—O blame me not,
If I shall praise thee!
Wide waves the leafy June around,
The banks with blossomy curls are crowned,
Sweet flows with mild and murmurous sound
The clear Nith river,
And Peace holds all the grassy ground
Now sacred ever.
The banks with blossomy curls are crowned,
Sweet flows with mild and murmurous sound
The clear Nith river,
And Peace holds all the grassy ground
Now sacred ever.
89
The poet's farm!—a fairer sight
Ne'er filled my view with calm delight;
Full fitly here our minstrel wight
Did pitch his dwelling,
With Beauty's green and gentle might
Around him swelling!
Ne'er filled my view with calm delight;
Full fitly here our minstrel wight
Did pitch his dwelling,
With Beauty's green and gentle might
Around him swelling!
Here stands the house, the very wall
Stout labour raised at Robin's call,
A farmer's beild, which, low and small,
No envy breedeth,
Enough for comfort, and for all
A poet needeth.
Stout labour raised at Robin's call,
A farmer's beild, which, low and small,
No envy breedeth,
Enough for comfort, and for all
A poet needeth.
And there the stack—yard, where he lay
And gazed upon the starry ray,
When pensive Memory's tender sway,
With fingers fairy,
Struck from his heart the sad sweet lay
Of Highland Mary!
And gazed upon the starry ray,
When pensive Memory's tender sway,
With fingers fairy,
Struck from his heart the sad sweet lay
Of Highland Mary!
And here the bank where he did sit,
When once his quick and glancing wit
Off—started on a racing fit
With glorious canter,
And forth with flashing hit on hit
Flew Tam O'Shanter!
When once his quick and glancing wit
Off—started on a racing fit
With glorious canter,
90
Flew Tam O'Shanter!
And oft, I ween, to that green bower
He walked, in placid evening hour,
With bonnie Jean, whose smile had power
To soothe his spirit,
When fitful thoughts, and fancies sour,
Might rudely stir it!
He walked, in placid evening hour,
With bonnie Jean, whose smile had power
To soothe his spirit,
When fitful thoughts, and fancies sour,
Might rudely stir it!
Fair Ellisland, thou dearest spot
To each true—hearted stalwarth Scot,
When I forget thy small white cot
And winding river,
Sheer from my thought may Memory blot
All trace for ever!
To each true—hearted stalwarth Scot,
When I forget thy small white cot
And winding river,
Sheer from my thought may Memory blot
All trace for ever!
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