OnScaringSomeWater-FowlInLoch-Turit

onscaringsomewater-fowlinloch-turit

awildsceneamongthehillsofoughtertyre.

“thiswastheproductionofasolitaryforenoon'swalkfromoughtertyrehouse.ilivedthere,theguestofsirwilliammurray,fortwoorthreeweeks,andwasmuchflatteredbymyhospitablereception.whatapitythatthemereemotionsofgratitudearesoimpotentinthisworld.'tisluckythat,aswearetold,theywillbeofsomeavailintheworldtocome.”—r.b.,glenriddellmss.

why,yetenantsofthelake,

formeyourwat'ryhauntforsake?

tellme,fellow-creatures,why

atmypresencethusyoufly?

whydisturbyoursocialjoys,

parent,filial,kindredties?—

commonfriendtoyouandme,

yature'sgiftstoallarefree:

peacefulkeepyourdimplingwave,

busyfeed,orwantonlave;

or,beneaththeshelteringrock,

bidethesurgingbillow'sshock.

conscious,blushingforourrace,

soon,toosoon,yourfearsitrace,

man,yourproud,usurpingfoe,

wouldbelordofallbelow:

plumeshimselfinfreedom'spride,

tyrantsterntoallbeside.

theeagle,fromthecliffybrow,

markingyouhispreybelow,

inhisbreastnopitydwells,

strongnecessitycompels:

butman,towhomaloneisgiv'n

araydirectfrompityingheav'n,

gloriesinhishearthumane—

andcreaturesforhispleasureslain!

inthesesavage,liquidplains,

onlyknowntowand'ringswains,

wherethemossyriv'letstrays,

farfromhumanhauntsandways;

allonnatureyoudepend,

andlife'spoorseasonpeacefulspend.

or,ifman'ssuperiormight

dareinvadeyournativeright,

ontheloftyetherborne,

manwithallhispow'rsyouscorn;

swiftlyseek,onclangingwings,

otherlakesandothersprings;

andthefoeyoucannotbrave,

scornatleasttobehisslave.