TO M. S. G.

I.

WHEN I dream that you love me, you'll surely forgive,

Extend not your anger to sleep;

For, in visions alone, your affection can live,
I rise, and it leaves me to weep.

2.

Then, Morpheus! envelope my faculties fast,

Shed o'er me your languor benign;

Should the dream of to-night but resemble the last,
What rapture celestial is mine!

3.

They tell us that Slumber, the sister of Death,

Mortality's emblem is given;

To fate how I long to resign my frail breath,

If this be a foretaste of Heaven.

4.

Ah! frown not, sweet Lady, unbend your soft brow,

Nor deem me too happy in this;

If I sin in my dream, I atone for it now,
Thus doom'd, but to gaze upon bliss.

5.

Tho' in visions, sweet Lady, perhaps, you may smile,
Oh! think not my penance deficient;

When dreams of your presence my slumbers beguile,
To awake will be torture sufficient.

SONG.

I.

WHEN I rov❜d, a young Highlander, o'er the dark heath, And climb'd thy steep summit, oh! Morven of Snow (1), To gaze on the torrent, that thunder'd beneath,

Or the mist of the tempest that gather❜d below (2); Untutor❜d by science, a stranger to fear,

And rude as the rocks, where my infancy grew, bosom was dear,

No feeling, save one, to my

Need I say, my sweet Mary, 'twas centred in you?

2.

Yet, it could not be love, for I knew not the name,
What passion can dwell in the heart of a child?
But, still, I perceive an emotion the same

As I felt, when a boy, on the crag-cover'd wild :
One image, alone, on my bosom imprest,

I lov'd my bleak regions, nor panted for new, And few were my wants, for my wishes were blest, And pure were my thoughts, for my soul was with you.

(1) Morven, a lofty Mountain in Aberdeenshire : « Gormal of Snow,» is an expression frequently to be found in Ossian.

(2) This will not appear extraordinary to those who have been accustomed to the mountains; it is by no means uncommon on attaining the top of Ben e vis, Ben y bourd, etc., to perceive, between the summit and the valley, clouds pouring down rain, and, occasionally, accompanied by lightning, while the spectator literally looks down on the storm, perfectly secure from its effects.

3.

I arose with the dawn, with my dog as my guide,
From mountain to mountain I bounded along,
I breasted (1) the billows of Dee's (2) rushing tide,
And heard, at a distance, the Highlander's song :
At eve, on my heath-cover'd couch of repose,

No dreams, save of Mary, were spread to my view
And warm to the skies my devotions arose,
For the first of my prayers was a blessing on you.

I left

4.

my bleak home, and my visions are gone, The mountains are vanish'd, my youth is no more; As the last of my race, I must wither alone,

And delight but in days I have witness'd before; Ah! splendour has rais'd, but embitter'd my lot, More dear were the scenes which my infancy knew ; Though my hopes may have fail'd, yet they are not forgot, Tho' cold is my heart, still it lingers with you.

5.

When I see some dark hill point its crest to the sky,
I think of the rocks that o'ershadow Colbleen (3);
When I see the soft blue of a love-speaking eye,

I think of those eyes that endear'd the rude scene;
When, haply, some light-waving locks I behold,
That faintly resemble my Mary's in hue,
I think on the long flowing ringlets of gold,
The locks that were sacred to beauty, and

(1) « Breasting the lofty surge. »

you.

SHAKESPEARE.

(2) The Dee is a beautiful river, which rises near Mar Logde, and falls into the sea, at New Aberdeen.

(3) Colbleen is a mountain near the verge of the Hig lands, not far from the ruins of Dee Castle.

6.

Yet, the day may arrive, when the mountains, once more,
Shall rise to my sight, in their mantles of snow:
But, while these soar above me, unchanged as before,
Will Mary be there to receive me? ah no!

Adieu! then, ye hills, where my childhood was bred,
Thou sweet flowing Dee, to thy waters adieu!

No home in the forest shall shelter my head,

Ah! Mary, what home could be mine, but with you?

ΤΟ

1.

Он!

yes, I will own we were dear to each other, The friendships of childhood, tho' fleeting, are true; The love which you felt, was the love of a brother, Nor less the affection I cherish'd for you.

2.

But Friendship can vary her gentle dominion,
The attachment of years, in a moment, expires;
Like Love too, she moves on a swift-waving pinion,
But glows not, like Love, with unquenchable fires.

3.

Full oft have we wander'd through Ida together,
And blest were the scenes of our youth, I allow;
In the spring of our life, how serene is the weather!
But winter's rude tempests are gathering now.

4.

No more with affection shall memory blending
The wonted delights of our childhood retrace;
When pride steels the bosom, the heart is unbending,
And what would be justice appears a disgrace.

5.

However, dear S-, for I still must esteem you,
The few, whom I love, I can never upbraid,
The chance, which has lost, may in future redeem you,
Repentance will cancel the vow you have made.

6.

I will not complain, and tho' chill'd is affection,
With me no corroding resentment shall live;
My bosom is calm'd by the simple reflection,

That both may be wrong, and that both should forgive.

7.

You knew that my soul, that my heart, my existence,
If danger demanded, were wholly your own;

You knew me unalter'd by years or by distance,
Devoted to love and to friendship alone.

8.

You knew, but away with the vain retrospection,
The bond of affection no longer endures;

Too late you may droop o'er the fond recollection,
And sigh for the friend, who was formerly yours.

9.

For the present, we part,-I will hope not for ever,
For time and regret will restore you at last;
To forget our dissention we both should endeavour,
I ask no atouement, but days like the past.