The Poetry of Real Life A New Edition, Much Enlarged and Improved. By Henry Ellison |
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ON THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO EDINBURGH, ANNOUNCED BY
BEACON-FIRES ON THE HIGHER HILLS. |
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 | The Poetry of Real Life |  |
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ON THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO EDINBURGH, ANNOUNCED BY BEACON-FIRES ON THE HIGHER HILLS.
Thou firetonguëd messenger, speak on
From hill to hill: bound over plain and lea,
O'er the green breadth of earth and far-stretched sea,
Kindling up fiery comparison
Along the mountain-tops, one after one!
Till all the far-off shires and counties see
The flaming herald of this jubilee,
Bounding and gathering strength, each step, upon
His mountain-way! Thou, Arthur's-seat, begin,
Lift up thy fiery crest into the sky,
And give the tidings fitting origin—
And ye, reflecting fires, far and nigh,
Link after link, the flamewrought chain outspin,
And glad the isles with your bright heraldry!
From hill to hill: bound over plain and lea,
O'er the green breadth of earth and far-stretched sea,
Kindling up fiery comparison
Along the mountain-tops, one after one!
Till all the far-off shires and counties see
The flaming herald of this jubilee,
Bounding and gathering strength, each step, upon
His mountain-way! Thou, Arthur's-seat, begin,
Lift up thy fiery crest into the sky,
And give the tidings fitting origin—
And ye, reflecting fires, far and nigh,
Link after link, the flamewrought chain outspin,
And glad the isles with your bright heraldry!
And, lo! it rises, streaming on the air,
With its huge breadth of long-extended trail,
Lashing the darkness, like a Comet's tail,
And flickering on the foreheads hoar and bare
Of the old mountains, with its umbered glare,
Haloing their solemn brows, as if they were
Earth's antediluvian forefathers, without heir
Or issue, save themselves, to tell the tale!
Bound forth, bright herald, to Carnethy's hill:
And bid him take the word and pass it on,
With fiery speech, and all the Pentlands fill:
And o'er the ocean let it flash anon,
Dreaming on things to come, so calm and still,
Like an old prophet in the days long gone!
With its huge breadth of long-extended trail,
Lashing the darkness, like a Comet's tail,
And flickering on the foreheads hoar and bare
Of the old mountains, with its umbered glare,
Haloing their solemn brows, as if they were
Earth's antediluvian forefathers, without heir
Or issue, save themselves, to tell the tale!
Bound forth, bright herald, to Carnethy's hill:
And bid him take the word and pass it on,
With fiery speech, and all the Pentlands fill:
And o'er the ocean let it flash anon,
Dreaming on things to come, so calm and still,
Like an old prophet in the days long gone!
| The Poetry of Real Life | |