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Lays of the Highlands and Islands

By John Stuart Blackie
Blackie, John Stuart (1809-1895)

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE BARONESS BURDETT COUTTS.
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IONA.
  
THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBA.
  
THE DEATH OF COLUMBA.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
I.THE TOURISTS.
 II. 
II.THE ROYAL SAINT.
 III. 
III.THE LORD'S DAY IN IONA.
 IV. 
IV.MOONLIGHT.
 V. 
V.THE BOULDER.
 VI. 
VI.THE DISAPPOINTED TOURIST.
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MULL.
  
A PSALM OF BEN MORE.
  
THE DUKE'S RETREAT.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
I.BEN TEALLADH.
 II. 
II.LOCH BAA.
 III. 
III.LOCH BAA: AGAIN.
 IV. 
IV.FAREWELL TO LOCH BAA.
 V. 
V.BEN GREIG.
 VI. 
VI.MULL WEATHER.
  
THE RUINED CLACHAN.
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SKYE.
  
BLAVEN.
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ORKNEY.
  
THE OLD MAN OF HOY.
  
THE DEATH OF HACO.
  
STENNIS. I.
  
STENNIS. II.
  
MAESHOW.
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SHETLAND
  
BURRA FIORD.
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ARGYLLSHIRE.
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GLENCOE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
IKING'S HOUSE INN.
 II. 
IIMOONLIGHT AT KING'S HOUSE.
 III. 
IIITO AN OLD LEAFLESS TREE ON THE MOOR, NEAR KING'S HOUSE.
 IV. 
IVTHE BUCHAILL ETIVE.
  
SONG OF BEN CRUACHAN.
  
THE ASCENT OF CRUACHAN.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
ION THE MONUMENT TO NELSON AT TAYNUILT.
 II. 
IIBEN CRUACHAN IN A DARK EVENING.
 III. 
IIIJOHN BRIGHT AT TAYNUILT.
 IV. 
IV.JOHN BRIGHT AT TAYNUILT.
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OBAN.
  
HUMOURS OF HIGHLAND WEATHER.
  
A SEPTEMBER BLAST IN OBAN.
  
THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER IN OBAN.
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INVERNESS-SHIRE.
  
THE LAY OF THE BRAVE CAMERON.
  
FASSFEARN.
  
GLENFINNAN.
  
THE MONUMENT OF PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD, AT GLENFINNAN, LOCH SHIEL.
  
KINLOCH LEVEN.
  
KINLOCH MOIDART.
  
KINLOCH MOIDART.
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DUMBARTONSHIRE.
  
EDENDARACH.
  
ROB ROY'S CAVE.
  
ARDLUI: THE PULPIT ROCK.
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ROSS-SHIRE.
  
A PSALM OF LOCH DUICH.
  
TAIN: THE CHAPEL OF SAINT DUTHACH.
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SUTHERLANDSHIRE.
  
BONNIE STRATHNAVER.
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CAITHNESS.
  
JOHN O'GROAT'S HOUSE.
  
WICK: THE HERRING FISHERY.
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PERTHSHIRE.
  
LOCH RANNOCH.
  
LOCH RANNOCH MOOR.
  
AT LOCH ERICHT.
  
A SONG OF BEN LEDI.
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ABERDEENSHIRE.
  
BRAEMAR:
  
BEN MUICDHUI.
  
THE HIGHLANDER'S LAMENT.
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ARRAN.
  
GLEN ROSA.
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GENERAL.
  
BONNIE BLACKWATER.
  
HIGHLAND INNS.
  
THE HIGHLAND MINISTER.
  
THE HIGHLAND MANSE.
  
THE LADY WHO LOVES THE HIGHLANDS.
  
THE BOULDER.
  
SOLITUDE.
  
THE SONG OF THE HIGHLAND RIVER.

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107

II
BEN CRUACHAN IN A DARK EVENING.

As a fair mountain when the day hath run
His course, and scanty stars are faintly seen,
Swathes him in folds of sombre mantle dun,
Shorn of the purple glories and the green;
So a fair lady—saddest of sad sights—
Who yields her humour to a peevish whim,
Casts out the radiant Phœbus, and for him
Brings in a devil, who blows out all the lights.
O, if ye knew, all dames with lovely faces,
How much ye mar your beauty with your spleen,
You'd covet more than finest silks and laces
The spirit-power that paints the fleshly screen!
Manners are masks; but keep the fountain bright,
And thy whole body shall be full of light.
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