The lamp of day, with—ill presaging glare,Dim, cloudy, sank beneath the western wave;Th’ inconstant blast howl’d thro’ the dark’ning air,And hollow whistled in the rocky cave.4
Lone as I wander’d by each cliff and dell,Once the lov’d haunts of Scotia’s royal train;Or mus’d where limpid streams, once hallow’d well,Or mould’ring ruins mark the sacred fane.8
Th’ increasing blast roar’d round the beetling rocks,The clouds swift-wing’d flew o’er the starry sky,The groaning trees untimely shed their locks,And shooting meteors caught the startled eye.12
The paly moon rose in the livid east.And ’mong the cliffs disclos’d a stately formIn weeds of woe, that frantic beat her breast,And mix’d her wailings with the raving storm16
Wild to my heart the filial pulses glow,’Twas Caledonia’s trophied shield I view’d:Her form majestic droop’d in pensive woe,The lightning of her eye in tears imbued.20
Revers’d that spear, redoubtable in war,Reclined that banner, erst in fields unfurl’d,That like a deathful meteor gleam’d afar,And brav’d the mighty monarchs of the world.24
“My patriot son fills an untimely grave!”With accents wild and lifted arms she cried;“Low lies the hand oft was stretch’d to save,Low lies the heart that swell’d with honest pride.28
“A weeping country joins a widow’s tear;The helpless poor mix with the orphan’s cry;The drooping arts surround their patron’s bier;And grateful science heaves the heartfelt sigh!32
“I saw my sons resume their ancient fire;I saw fair Freedom’s blossoms richly blow:But ah! how hope is born but to expire!Relentless fate has laid their guardian low.36
“My patriot falls: but shall he lie unsung,While empty greatness saves a worthless name?No; every muse shall join her tuneful tongue,And future ages hear his growing fame.40
“And I will join a mother’s tender cares,Thro’ future times to make his virtues last;That distant years may boast of other Blairs!”—She said, and vanish’d with the sweeping blast.44