XVII.

TO THE PLANET VENUS, AN EVENING STAR.

COMPOSED AT LOCH LOMOND.

THOUGH joy attend Thee orient at the birth

Of dawn, it cheers the lofty spirit most

To watch thy course when Day-light, fled from earth,
In the grey sky hath left his lingering Ghost,
Perplexed as if between a splendour lost

And splendour slowly mustering. Since the Sun,
The absolute, the world-absorbing One,
Relinquished half his empire to the host
Emboldened by thy guidance, holy Star,
Holy as princely, who that looks on thee
Touching, as now, in thy humility
The mountain borders of this seat of care,
Can question that thy countenance is bright,
Celestial Power, as much with love as light?

XVIII.

BOTHWELL CASTLE.

(PASSED UNSEEN, ON ACCOUNT OF STORMY WEATHER.)

IMMURED in Bothwell's towers, at times the Brave

(So beautiful is Clyde) forgot to mourn

The liberty they lost at Bannockbourn.

Once on those steeps I roamed at large, and have
In mind the landscape, as if still in sight;
The river glides, the woods before me wave;
Then why repine that now in vain I crave
Needless renewal of an old delight?
Better to thank a dear and long-past day

For joy its sunny hours were free to give

Than blame the present, that our wish hath crost. Memory, like sleep, hath powers which dreams obey, Dreams, vivid dreams, that are not fugitive:

How little that she cherishes is lost!

XIX.

PICTURE OF DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN, AT
HAMILTON PALACE.

AMID a fertile region green with wood

And fresh with rivers, well did it become
The ducal Owner, in his palace-home

To naturalise this tawny Lion brood;

Children of Art, that claim strange brotherhood
(Couched in their den) with those that roam at large
Over the burning wilderness, and charge

The wind with terror while they roar for food.
Satiate are these; and still-to eye and ear;
Hence, while we gaze, a more enduring fear!
Yet is the Prophet calm, nor would the cave
Daunt him if his Companions, now be-drowsed
Outstretched and listless, were by hunger roused:
Man placed him here, and God, he knows, can save.

XX.

THE AVON.

(A FEEDER OF THE ANNAN.)

AVON- —a precious, an immortal name!

Yet is it one that other rivulets bear

Like this unheard-of, and their channels wear

Like this contented, though unknown to Fame :
For great and sacred is the modest claim

Of streams to Nature's love, where'er they flow;
And ne'er did Genius slight them, as they go,
Tree, flower, and green herb, feeding without blame.
But Praise can waste her voice on work of tears,
Anguish, and death: full oft where innocent blood
Has mixed its current with the limpid flood,
Her heaven-offending trophies Glory rears:
Never for like distinction may the good

Shrink from thy name, pure Rill, with unpleased ears.

XXI.

SUGGESTED BY A VIEW FROM AN EMINENCE IN
INGLEWOOD FOREST.

THE forest huge of ancient Caledon

Is but a name, nor more is Inglewood,

That swept from hill to hill, from flood to flood:
On her last thorn the nightly moon has shone ;
Yet still, though unappropriate Wild be none,
Fair parks spread wide where Adam Bell might deign
With Clym o' the Clough, were they alive again,
To kill for merry feast their venison.

Nor wants the holy Abbot's gliding Shade

His church with monumental wreck bestrown ;

The feudal Warrior-chief, a Ghost unlaid,

Hath still his castle, though a skeleton,

That he may watch by night, and lessons con
Of power that perishes, and rights that fade.