Melville's towers sae white and stately,
Dim by gloaming glint[116] to view;
Through Lasswade's dark woods keek[117] sweetly,
Skies sae red and lift sae blue.
Entering now in transport mingle,
Mother fond, and happy wean,[118]
Smiling round a canty[119] ingle,
Bleezing on a clean hearth-stane.
'Soldier, welcome! Come, be cheery!
Here ye'se[120] rest, and tak' your bed—
Faint, waes me! ye seem and weary,
Pale's your cheek, sae lately red!'
'Changed I am,' sighed Willie till[121] her;
'Changed nae doubt, as changed[122] can be;
Yet, alas! does Jeanie Miller
Naught o' Willie Gairlace see?'
Hae ye mark'd the dews o' morning,
Glittering in the sunny ray,
Quickly fa' when, without warning,
Rough blasts came and shook the spray?
Hae ye seen the bird fast fleeing,
Drap when pierced by death mair fleet?
Then see Jean, wi' color deeing,[123]
Senseless drap at Willie's feet.
After three lang years' affliction,
A' their waes now hush'd to rest,
Jean ance mair, in fond affection,
Clasps her Willie to her breast.
But hark! the first bell rings for the cars; so let us be off, and get our places. The sun has slipped down behind the trees yonder, and it will be gloaming, if not ''tween and supper time,' before we get to Edinburgh.
All is right, and off we go, whirring through the quiet and beautiful scenery of these highly cultivated regions. We pass through "Samson's ribs," that is, the granite rocks of Duddingston, by means of a tunnel, glide along the base of Arthur's Seat, on whose summit linger the last rays of evening; and land at the upper end of the city, well prepared to relish a Scottish supper of substantial edibles, and after that, "tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep."