'Nor yet, O Bruce*! the morn that shone Bright, bright! whan (Edward's host ow'rthrown) High, on yon proud hill's Standard Stone,† Thy banners flew; While Freedom, loud, in raptur'd tone Her clarion blew! -Enchanting morn! whase magic reign Brak forging thraldom's galling chain; Led Ceres, wi' her laughing train And gowden store Round Bannockburn's ensanguin'd plain, * King Robert the Bruce. And Carron's shore. + The stone where Bruce's standard was fixed during the memorable battle of Bannockburn. It may still be seen on an eminence near the village of St. Ninians, with a hole in the centre where the end of the standard was fixed, and thence named the bore stone.' Round Carun's stream,' o' classic name, Whar Fingal fought, and ay ow'rcame; * Whar Ossian wak'd, wi' kindling flame, His heav'n-taught lays, And sang his Oscar's deathless fame At Dunipáce! * -Names, gratefu' to the patriot's ear! Which Scotia's sons delight to hear ! Names, that the brave will lang revere Wi' valour's sigh! -Dear to the Muse!-but doubly dear To Liberty!' * Vide the war of Caros, and the beautiful poem Comala. Thus, (blind to prudence' warning light) Aft sigh'd and sang the pensive wight! Reckless, alas! o' fortune's blight, Or warldly blame He'd muse, and dream, till dark midnight, Then daunder hame! Ye flowering plains and winding stream! Ye stately towers! whar morn's first beam Mild glittering glints wi' gowden gleam! Yours was the crime: Ye first entic'd his youth to dream In thriftless rhime! Ye first unlock'd the secret door That led to nature's varied store; And taught him early to adore Her tempting smile, Whether on India's pictur'd shore Or Britain's ifle. Ye classic fields, whar valour bled! Whar patriots strave, but never fled! Ye plains, wi' smiling plenty clad, A lang adieu! A dark'ning cloud wi' ills ow'rspread Obscures the view! |