EDINA’S cloud-cap’d hills and spires,
With castle-rocks, and cannon’s roar,
These fortresses which guard your coast,
Encompass’d by the sea-girt shore.
Your public domes where poor are fed,
Instruction given by wholesome laws,
To many a useful citizen
An honour to your country’s cause.
Your seminaries that excel,
And laurel branch has oft obtain’d,
For rearing sons of lit’rature,
To distant Isles are justly famed,
Your monument for Neilson raised,
His martial trophies to proclaim,
Whose deeds of arms at Trafalgar,
Strove Britain’s empire to maintain.
Your ships of commerce, pleasing sight,
At anchor, or while under way,
The prospect grand from Calton Hill,
Which all those various scenes display.
Your lofty turrets, sculptur’d walls,
With craigs, and lochs, and crystal springs,
Your buildings of superior height,
With ancient seat of Scottish Kings.
Farewell, from these romantic views,
In search of health, I haste away,
To Woodburn’s cool sequester’d shade,
Excluded from Apollo’s ray.
Beneath some spreading tree reclin’d,
Made vocal by the warbling choir,
In concert with their melody,
Will help to harmonize his lyre.
There I may weave the numbers smooth;
When free from anxious cares and strife,
Which oft pervade my footsteps here,
Harrass my mind, imbitter life.
Within the shady grove retir’d,
Converse, with wisdom, and attend
To what she dictates, pleasant path,
And safety at my journey’s end.
Then wander by the burn so clear,
Exempt from storms or sudden squall,
Or onward move through Lothian glen,
To view the white-foam’d water fall.
Then lean me down on Ancram bank,
To listen to its dashing roar,
Till down meand’ring stream it glides,
Like passions, spent which rage no more.
Or ramble o’er the meadows green,
Then pull the gowan from the lea,
With peace, contentment in my train,
Enjoy the bliss of liberty.
And health, if ever I regain,
Those talents, which neglected lie,
Within my sphere of usefulness,
I will endeavour to employ.
Till then, unfit for arduous task,
The powers of action not in tune;
With thoughts perplex’d, and strength decay’d,
I languish now from morn till noon.
And tho’ I am at even-tide,
To all appearance cheerful gay,
‘Tis but the fume of plant infus’d,
And vapor-like, soon flies away.
For bleak has blown the northern blast,
Upon my unprotected head,
Since I came here, and nights and days,
The tears of sorrow make me shed.
And in this place no relative,
To sooth my mind, when grief and smart
Depress my spirits, dim mine eyes
With torrents, and a woe-fraught heart.
Ah! scarcely three-and-twenty suns,
Revolving years to me were shown,
When death shot thrice his fatal dart,
And thrice he laid in silent tomb
An aunt, when entering in my teens,
A mother, when but six years old.
My hardships since, here to relate,
A mournful tale it would unfold.
Then silent anguish pal’d my cheek,
Ere furrowed by the hand of time,
Deploring long a much lov’d youth;
Alas! he droop’d in manhood’s prime.
To form him with superior grace,
Both art and nature had design’d;
His countenance exceeding fair,
Was the bright index of his mind.
Taught with each virtuous sentiment,
Which prov’d itself in actions rare;
In manners, and in words discreet;
How few with Edwy could compare.
Ah! now no more the rural walk,
At eve, where fertile scenes rejoice,
With him in pleasing converse, while
I listen’d to his soothing voice.
From lips, where soft persuasion hung,
To attract the ear or charm the heart;
For ever lost their wonted skill,
Repell’d by death’s unerring dart.
Those eyes that once with lustre shone,
And spoke each thought, in pleasure drest,
Are now obscur’d with sable shroud,
Clos’d in his narrow house at rest.
My sorrow since I need not tell,
Nor yet the mark’d disdain of such,
As are in happier plight * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
Affection’s ties few now to boast,
And of those few removed afar,
The most of them, to other climes,
Engag’d amidst the din of war.
Deprived thus of social friends,
Expos’d to shrewd design of those,
Who still with fair pretence mislead;
More dangerous such than worst of foes.
Affliction’s child since early day,
Too apt, to lean on broken reed,
A frail support which soon gives way,
Or stands aloof in time of need.
A lesson this, to wean me from
Each fading sublunary joy,
Or trusting ought but bliss secure,
Which pow’rs combin’d cannot destroy.
And now tho’ pensive, sad I tread,
If once our mortal conflict’s o’er,
This cheering hope, in happier skies,
Friends meet again to part no more.
One comfort still, my father lives;
To Anglia I again return;
(If in my power bestow solace,
To him, for me who oft doth mourn.)
My native land, still more indear’d;
There, wrapp’d in clay, my mother lies,
To where affection draws me hence,
Before death close my father’s eyes.
Anticipation’s on the wing,
I haste to meet a parent’s love,
Receive a blessing from his lips,
And feel it ratify’d above.
I go! *-nor cast one lingering look,
On all the various charms of town,
Far better pleas’d with filial care,
The calm retreat and russet gown.
Yet gratitude, for kindness shown,
Within my heart shall always rest;
And may the stranger’s friend, each one,
In Scotia’s Isle, be ever blest.
And haply when I sleep in dust,
With soft regret perhaps the few
Who love me, drop a friendly tear,
And call to mind my last adieu.
(Margaretta Wedderburn)
More Poetry from Margaretta Wedderburn:
Margaretta Wedderburn Poems based on Topics: Mind, Love, Friendship, Sadness, Joy & Excitement, Power, Time, Life, Sense & Perception, Youth, War & Peace- Mary Queen Of Scots, An Historical Poem (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
- Scenes Of Youth, Or The Days Of Other Years,- 1809.- In Two Parts. (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
- Dalkeith, On The Happy Days I Have Enjoyed WithIn Its Bonny Bounds. (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
- The Sky, Or A Description Of A Fine Evening: August 17. 1808. (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
- An Address To My Friends, When It May Be Supposed, That They Have Read The Contents Of This (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
- The Effusions Of Sorrow. March The 12th, 1807. (Margaretta Wedderburn Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Life Poems, Mind Poems, Sadness Poems, Time Poems, Death & Dying Poems, War & Peace Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Youth Poems, Fairness Poems, Sense & Perception PoemsBased on Keywords: even-tide, usefulness, fortresses, sculptur, deploring, ratify, meand, gowan, infus, edina, harrass