Poems in Two Volumes Volume I Part 3

THE SEVEN SISTERS, OR THE SOLITUDE OF BINNORIE.

Seven Daughters had Lord Archibald, All Children of one Mother: I could not say in one short day What love they bore each other, A Garland of seven Lilies wrought!

Seven Sisters that together dwell; But he, bold Knight as ever fought, Their Father, took of them no thought, He loved the Wars so well.

Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully, 10 The Solitude of Binnorie!

Fresh blows the wind, a western wind, And from the sh.o.r.es of Erin, Across the wave, a Rover brave To Binnorie is steering: Right onward to the Scottish strand The gallant s.h.i.+p is borne; The Warriors leap upon the land, And hark! the Leader of the Band Hath blown his bugle horn. 20 Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully, The Solitude of Binnorie.

Beside a Grotto of their own, With boughs above them closing, The Seven are laid, and in the shade They lie like Fawns reposing.

But now, upstarting with affright At noise of Man and Steed, Away they fly to left to right-- Of your fair household, Father Knight, 30 Methinks you take small heed!

Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully, The Solitude of Binnorie.

Away the seven fair Campbells fly, And, over Hill and Hollow, With menace proud, and insult loud, The youthful Rovers follow.

Cried they, "Your Father loves to roam: Enough for him to find The empty House when he comes home; 40 For us your yellow ringlets comb, For us be fair and kind!"

Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully, The Solitude of Binnorie.

Some close behind, some side by side, Like clouds in stormy weather, They run, and cry, "Nay let us die, And let us die together."

A Lake was near; the sh.o.r.e was steep; There never Foot had been; 50 They ran, and with a desperate leap Together plung'd into the deep, Nor ever more were seen.

Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully, The Solitude of Binnorie.

The Stream that flows out of the Lake, As through the glen it rambles, Repeats a moan o'er moss and stone, For those seven lovely Campbells.

Seven little Islands, green and bare, 60 Have risen from out the deep: The Fishers say, those Sisters fair By Faeries are all buried there, And there together sleep.

Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully The Solitude of Binnorie.

To H. C.,

SIX YEARS OLD.

O Thou! whose fancies from afar are brought; Who of thy words dost make a mock apparel, And fittest to unutterable thought The breeze-like motion and the self-born carol; Thou Faery Voyager! that dost float In such clear water, that thy Boat May rather seem To brood on air than on an earthly stream; Suspended in a stream as clear as sky, Where earth and heaven do make one imagery; 10 O blessed Vision! happy Child!

That art so exquisitely wild, I think of thee with, many fears For what may be thy lot in future years.

I thought of times when Pain might be thy guest, Lord of thy house and hospitality; And grief, uneasy Lover! never rest But when she sate within the touch of thee.

Oh! too industrious folly!

Oh! vain and causeless melancholy! 20 Nature will either end thee quite; Or, lengthening out thy season of delight, Preserve for thee, by individual right, A young Lamb's heart among the full-grown flocks.

What hast Thou to do with sorrow, Or the injuries of tomorrow?

Thou art a Dew-drop, which, the morn brings forth, Not doom'd to jostle with unkindly shocks; Or to be trail'd along the soiling earth; A Gem that glitters while it lives, 30 And no forewarning gives; But, at the touch of wrong, without a strife Slips in a moment out of life.

_Among all lovely things my Love had been_

Among all lovely things my Love had been; Had noted well the stars, all flowers that grew About her home; but she had never seen A Glow-worm, never one, and this I knew.

While riding near her home one stormy night A single Glow-worm did I chance to espy; I gave a fervent welcome to the sight, And from my Horse I leapt; great joy had I.

Upon a leaf the Glow-worm did I lay, To bear it with me through the stormy night: 10 And, as before, it shone without dismay; Albeit putting forth a fainter light.

When to the Dwelling of my Love I came, I went into the Orchard quietly; And left the Glow-worm, blessing it by name, Laid safely by itself, beneath a Tree.

The whole next day, I hoped, and hoped with fear; At night the Glow-worm shone beneath the Tree: I led my Lucy to the spot, "Look here!"

Oh! joy it was for her, and joy for me! 20

_I travell'd among unknown Men_

I travell'd among unknown Men, In Lands beyond the Sea; Nor England! did I know till then What love I bore to thee.

'Tis past, that melancholy dream!

Nor will I quit thy sh.o.r.e A second time; for still I seem To love thee more and more.

Among thy mountains did I feel The joy of my desire; 10 And She I cherish'd turn'd her wheel Beside an English fire.

Thy mornings shew'd--thy nights conceal'd The bowers where Lucy play'd; And thine is, too, the last green field Which Lucy's eyes survey'd!

ODE TO DUTY.

Stern Daughter of the Voice of G.o.d!

O Duty! if that name thou love Who art a Light to guide, a Rod To check the erring, and reprove; Thou who art victory and law When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; From strife and from despair; a glorious ministry.

There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, 10 Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do thy work, and know it not: May joy be theirs while life shall last!

And Thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand fast!

Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. 20 And bless'd are they who in the main This faith, even now, do entertain: Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet find that other strength, according to their need.