From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs,
That makes her lov'd at home, rever'd abroad:
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings;
"An honest man's the noblest work of God;"
And certes, in fair virtue's heavenly road,
The cottage leaves the palace far behind;
What is a lordling's pomp?—a cumbrous load,
Disguising oft the wretch of human kind,
Studied in arts of hell, in wickedness refin'd!
O Scotia! my dear, my native soil!
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!
And, oh! may Heaven their simple lives prevent
From luxury's contagion, weak and vile!
Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent,
A virtuous populace may rise the while,
And stand a wall of fire around their much-lov'd Isle.
O Thou! who pour'd the patriotic tide
That stream'd through Wallace's undaunted heart;
Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride,
Or nobly die, the second glorious part,
(The patriot's God peculiarly Thou art,
His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!)
O never, never, Scotia's realm desert;
But still the patriot, and the patriot-bard,
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard.
FOOTNOTES:
[H] Inscribed to R. Aiken, Esq.
[1]Moan. [2]Morrow. [3]Stagger. [4]Fluttering. [5]Fire-place. [6]Presently. [7]Drive, i.e., with shouting or calling. [8]Attentive. [9]Requiring judgment. [10]Brave, fine, handsome. [11]De´posite, for depos´it. [12]Dear-won, hard-earned. [13]Money-wages. [14]Enquires. [15]Unknown things, news. [16]Makes. [17]Diligent. [18]Trifle. [19]Half. [20]In, into the room. [21]Talks. [22]Bashful. [23]Unwilling, shy. [24]What is left, rest. [25]Sup; here, milk. [26]White-faced cow. [27]Partition wall. [28]Carefully kept. [29]Cheese. [30]Tasty. [31]Twelvemonth. [32]Since flax was in flower. [33]Hall-Bible. [34]Grey, greyish. [35]Temples, here temple-locks. [36]Chooses. [37]Feeds, nourishes.