RavingWindsAroundHerBlowing

ravingwindsaroundherblowing

tune—“m'grigorofroro'slament.”

icomposedtheseversesonmissisabellam'leodofraza,alludingtoherfeelingsonthedeathofhersister,andthestillmoremelancholydeathofhersister'shusband,thelateearlofloudoun,whoshothimselfoutofsheerheart-breakatsomemortificationshesuffered,owingtothederangedstateofhisfinances.—r.b.,1971.

ravingwindsaroundherblowing,

yellowleavesthewoodlandsstrowing,

byariverhoarselyroaring,

isabellastray'ddeploring—

“farewell,hoursthatlatedidmeasure

sunshinedaysofjoyandpleasure;

hail,thougloomynightofsorrow,

cheerlessnightthatknowsnomorrow!

“o'erthepasttoofondlywandering,

onthehopelessfuturepondering;

chillygriefmylife-bloodfreezes,

felldespairmyfancyseizes.

“life,thousoulofeveryblessing,

loadtomiserymostdistressing,

gladlyhowwouldiresignthee,

andtodarkoblivionjointhee!”