VersesOnTheDestructionOfTheWoodsNearDrumlanrig

versesonthedestructionofthewoodsneardrumlanrig

asonthebankso'wanderingnith,

aesmilingsimmermornistray'd,

andtraceditsboniehowesandhaughs,

wherelintiessangandlammiesplay'd,

isatmedownuponacraig,

anddrankmyfillo'fancy'sdream,

whenfromtheeddyingdeepbelow,

uprosethegeniusofthestream.

dark,likethefrowningrock,hisbrow,

andtroubled,likehiswintrywave,

anddeep,assughsthebodingwind

amanghiscaves,thesighhegave—

“andcomeyehere,myson,”hecried,

“towanderinmybirkenshade?

tomusesomefavouritescottishtheme,

orsingsomefavouritescottishmaid?

“therewasatime,it'snaelangsyne,

yemighthaeseenmeinmypride,

whena'mybankssaebravelysaw

theirwoodypicturesinmytide;

whenhangingbeechandspreadingelm

shadedmystreamsaeclearandcool:

andstatelyoakstheirtwistedarms

threwbroadanddarkacrossthepool;

“when,glintingthro'thetrees,appear'd

theweewhitecotaboonthemill,

andpeacefu'roseitsinglereek,

that,slowlycurling,clambthehill.

butnowthecotisbareandcauld,

itsleafybieldforevergane,

andscarceastintedbirkisleft

toshiverintheblastitslane.”

“alas!”"hi,“whatruefu'chance

hastwin'dyeo'yourstatelytrees?

haslaidyourrockybosombare—

hasstrippedthecleedingo'yourbraes?

wasitthebittereasternblast,

thatscattersblightinearlyspring?

orwas'tthewil'firescorch'dtheirboughs,

orcanker-wormwi'secretsting?”

“naeeastlinblast,”thespritereplied;

“itblawsnaheresaefierceandfell,

andonmydryandhalesomebanks

naecanker-wormsgetleavetodwell:

man!cruelman!”thegeniussighed—

asthroughthecliffshesankhimdown—

“thewormthatgnaw'dmybonietrees,

thatreptilewearsaducalcrown.”