AddressToEdinburgh

addresstoedinburgh

edina!scotia'sdarlingseat!

allhailthypalacesandtow'rs,

whereonce,beneathamonarch'sfeet,

satlegislation'ssov'reignpow'rs:

frommarkingwildlyscatt'redflow'rs,

asonthebanksofayristray'd,

andsinging,lone,thelingeringhours,

ishelterintheyhonour'dshade.

herewealthstillswellsthegoldentide,

asbusytradehislaboursplies;

therearchitecture'snoblepride

bidseleganceandsplendourrise:

herejustice,fromhernativeskies,

highwieldsherbalanceandherrod;

therelearning,withhiseagleeyes,

seeksscienceinhercoyabode.

thysons,edina,social,kind,

withopenarmsthestrangerhail;

theirviewsenlarg'd,theirliberalmind,

abovethenarrow,ruralvale:

attentivestilltosorrow'swail,

ormodestmerit'ssilentclaim;

andnevermaytheirsourcesfail!

andneverenvyblottheirname!

thydaughtersbrightthywalksadorn,

gayasthegildedsummersky,

sweetasthedewy,milk-whitethorn,

dearastheraptur'dthrillofjoy!

fairburnetstrikesth'adoringeye,

heaven'sbeautiesonmyfancyshine;

iseethesireofloveonhigh,

andownhisworkindeeddivine!

there,watchinghightheleastalarms,

thyrough,rudefortressgleamsafar;

likesomeboldveteran,greyinarms,

andmark'dwithmanyaseamyscar:

thepond'rouswallandmassybar,

grim—risingo'ertheedrock,

haveoftwithstoodassailingwar,

andoftrepell'dth'invader'sshock.

withawe-struckthought,andpityingtears,

iviewthatnoble,statelydome,

wherescotia'skingsofotheryears,

fam'dheroes!hadtheirroyalhome:

alas,howchang'dthetimestocome!

theirroyalnamelowinthedust!

theirhaplessracewild-wand'ringroam!

tho'rigidlawcriesout'twasjust!

wildbeatsmyhearttotraceyoursteps,