Classic Poem

Mild wakes the Morn, with aspect blithe and sweet
O'er the blue Hills foretells a golden day!
Mild waking morn the beauteous blossoms greet,
Early precursors of approaching May.

Th' unfolded Flocks enliven all the dale
The landscape decking with their fleecy white,
The Shepherd's calls, that prelude love's fond tale,
From the neat Cot the list'ning maid invite.

Yon distant Mountain, on whose farthest side
The modest rays of April morn first play,
Till from its top the ardent Sun-beams glide
And P ITCAIRNE Green bedeck with bolder ray,

Owns in its riven base a Cavern deep,
Where harden'd filter'd drops of emerald green
Are pendent down its fretted sides so steep,
A sparkling, jewel'd, vegetative, scene!

In that resplendent Grot a S AGE deep reads
Mysterious Nature's laws that never swerve,
Not from distaste to Man his life thus leads,
But Man to contemplate, and, studious, serve!

There, rapt in S ECOND S IGHT , full oft he sees
Futurity appear, and fade away
The Genii, that glide upon the breeze,
To him his gifted visual powers display!

Ah! what a tone is that which floating near,
Seems harmony's full soul, so rich, though faint,
And, seizing thus on my enraptured ear
So sweetly murmurs in melodious plaint?

Hush'd be each ruder note! Attention spread
In thick'ning folds thy cobweb veil around,
Hold thy full sway o'er my reclining head
Whilst eagerly I catch the golden sound!

Ah, dull of Heart! th' harmonious voice not know!
Who but our District's G ENIUS has the skill?
From You alone such melting notes could flow,
'Tis only you so sweetly thus could thrill!

Say, pure descendent from the realms concealed
Beyond the ruby gates whence Dawn takes flight,
What Ills, midst such sweet scenes, to thee revealed,
Thus cloud the brow should beam celestial light?

Ah! wherefore grieves The Genius of the Waste,
Bending thus pensive from the fulgent sky?
Can Beings, pure like thee, of Sorrow taste,
Those, next to Angel, ever know to sigh!

Sage, still unlearn'd! 'tis now thy hour to know
That the dear Privilege to feel, to sigh,
To let the tear of sacred Pity flow,
Is not for Man alone, and earth-formed eye.

Where the Preeminence that Angels boast?
If, coldly negative in quiet Rest,
They formed a brilliant, but insensate, host,
By Heaven's most precious gift, to feel, unblest!

The fine sensations of the human mind
Exist more keenly in th' angelic frame,
More elevated poignant and refined,
As Earth's exceeded by Ethereal Flame!

Wonder not therefore that an Angel's brows,
Thus drooping now no cheering glances throw;
But give Attention—so thy Fate allows!
Whilst I relate what made the tear to flow.

See yonder Plain, unchanged by Mortal's hand
Since each Chaotic Element, aroused,
Sprang forth all Action at the great Command,
And in its new appointed station housed!

Since that first instant of the young-born time,
The days, all guiltless, o'er the Plain have flown,
To each year's ending from its earliest prime,
In sweet Simplicity's unruffled tone.

There Zephyrs calmly waft their airy wings,
And birds of Solitude glide, fearless, by,
And sometimes too the bird that lofty sings
Chants all its measures from the lucid sky.

That yellow broom, that frames with golden bounds
The verdant carpet smoothly spread between,
Marks where light Fairies nightly trip their rounds
Happy to gambol secret and unseen!

Whilst in the glittering regions of the Pole
The Northern Lights their vivid tints prepare,
The seeming Lightning, though no Thunders roll,
Prismatic Glories streaming through the air!

A Sage, Futurity there vision'd saw,
Tranquil as you in times long passed away,
His Country groan beneath the Feudal Law,
Or glut with power the Tyrant of the day.

Its neighbour E NGLAND , with irruptive bands,
Watching each turn, and changing of its Fate,
To bind with manacles its warlike hands,
And make it vassal to her haughtier state!

At length, with Pride! he saw his Scotland give
Monarchs to wear its Rival's splendid crown,
Blest in T HE U NION , saw both people live
Bound in one Empire, sharing one Renown!

Sacred to V ISIONS grand like these was kept
The magic Circle this horizon bounds,
And, since with Seers long past the Hermit slept,
There, ne'er have yet been heard tumultuous sounds!

In times when Feuds unfilial tore the land,
And horrid War her crimson flag unfurled,
And dread Rebellion, with its sanguine hand,
Midst peaceful swains its murderous arrows hurled,

No turbid Clans e'er passed that mossy heath,
No rival T HANES there proudly fought for place,
None came with hostile thoughts, or vows of Death,
If warriors came, 'twas only to embrace!

There but the oath of Mutual Peace was heard,
As yielding Chiefs to yielding foes gave hands,
And only sounds that friendly Joy had stirred
Thence reach'd the sky, though sprung from warlike bands.

Man's Envies, Frauds, and Malice, there ne'er felt,
Each shriek of Woe beyond its bounds was kept,
No mothers near heart-broken offspring knelt,
There Terror shrunk not, there ne'er Sorrow wept.

As rolling Years have drawn their veils between,
And Ages, born of Ages, passed away,
All Vice and Shame in other haunts have been,
The World's fell Arts ne'er flourish'd there a day.

But, now approaches fast the hour of change
E'en whilst I speak, the scene I vaunt is past!
There shall no more the blithesome Fairies range,
The late nocturnal revel was their last!

They all have sought the air-embosom'd hill
Where vivid breezes sport in blithesome play,
Have left the plain where gads the circling rill,
And Thyme-dress'd heath, where lingering flocks yet stray.

See, quick advance the numerous motley croud,
Mechanics, Traders, Pedants, pour along!
Their joy breaks out in carols rude and loud,
Mere Noise and Clamour steals the name of Song.

The verdant face of this once happy plain
The sharp tooth'd mattock shall deform and tear,
That evil first, and then, an endless train
Follow the footsteps of yon graceful Fair!

The crescent Town, obedient to their will,
Will rise from earth, spread forth its streets around,
Ah! that the stubborn rock, in quarry still,
Could keep, unhewn, unformed, its rest profound!

The noisy town, and air opake, they'll greet,
And the coarse din which trade and folly form!
Whilst Pride, Temptation, Fraud, in contest meet
And Virtue silence in the vulgar storm.

The social Evils now will all rush in,
Th' opposing Passions that distract mankind,
The blazon'd crime, the sly, well-cover'd, sin,
And every complex vice full range will find!

Cold wary Avarice, and Penury scant,
The proud man's Scorn, the rich man's sturdy Mien,
Wide-squandering Luxury, and pallid Want,
All haste to fill the varied, wretched, scene!

False Friendship here will spread its close-wove nets,
With muffled poniard stab, in tenderest part,
Ingratitude, for all the good it gets,
Returning barbed arrows to the Heart!

The love-lorn Self-assassin's groan I hear,
The broken Vow deplored, the rending sigh—
Ah see, the maid deceived upon her bier!
Of all joy reft, her solace but to die.

Yonder, a Robber skulks; a Murd'rer here!—
Ah, canst thou wonder, Sage, I mourn the hour!
Thou'st heard the Cause that swell'd my starting tear,
Now Thou wilt grieve too in thy secret bower!

Here paused the Genius. And the earthly Sage,
His hoary tresses floating round his head,
Slow raised his eyes, thoughts beaming riped by Age—
I see the vision'd Future Scene! he said.

And ah! your woe-fraught Prophecy too sure
Fate will to utmost plenitude fill up;
Each threaten'd Ill 'tis fixed they must endure,
And drink from Sorrow's never full-drain'd cup.

Yet, not unmix'd, the bitter draught will flow.
But, Guardian Genius of Simplicity,
Ill sorted Virtues please not thee, the foe
Of Vice and Virtue's mixed complexity.

Formed to endure earth's mingled wrong and right,
Whilst I yet linger in this lower state,
Though Future Visions pour upon my sight,
As Man, naught human must excite my hate!

Whilst Man and Sorrow spread in equal pace,
Midst vices Virtues spring upon the sight,
The great Result, a still more numerous race
Hereafter destined for the realms of Light!

More numerous Beings destined for the Skies?
Each art productive man must eager court.
By Industry, encouraged by the Wise,
Encreasing Numbers must obtain support!

Yonder rude circuit, where th' obtrusive fern
In sullen vegetation chills the glance,
A few revolving halcyon months will turn
To one all-cheering, lucid, gay, expanse!

Where Scotland's Staple shall delight the sight,
Courting the blanching beams of day's bright orb,
To give enduring Lustre to its white,
And every slight impurity absorb.

There from the loom shall costly webs be brought,
By pure taste taught in rich festoons to rise;
Which late from Belgia distant kingdoms sought,
But Caledonia now shall grant the prize.

Here shall rich damask spread its fruit and flowers,
For social tables, and for Halls of State,
There textures, seeming woven air, have powers
To soften beauty, and new charms create.

For these, whilst Labour chants its jocund song,
Shall foreign prows be guided to our shores;
Each rival State our ample harbours throng,
Its Tribute paying for our laboured stores.

Thus blest, this Village may, in unborn age,
Become a City graced with many a dome;
Of note in commerce, and of arts the Stage,
Where man industrious may secure a home.

Though social Evils will spread o'er the plain,
The Social Blessings too will haste along,
And, on the spot where Vice will lead his train,
Illustrious Virtues eagerly will throng.

If here the craving Miser heap his gold,
And frown upon the shivering needy wretch,
Here Pity shall her cornucopia hold,
And Charity her fostering arm outstretch.

And Female Elegance shall bid arise
The Spell all feel, but never can describe!
Scarce tangible by Thought, the tongue it flies,
Pride can't command it, nor can riches bribe.

Not sense, not loveliness, not wealth, nor wit,
But formed of all, the gift enchanting grows;
Each time and place adorns with Graces fit,
But in domestic hours supremely glows.

And who than Scotland's daughters more prepared
To spread the fascinating Charm around?
When through the Sex, great Nature beauty shared,
Thou know'st she here was even lavish found!

And though disastrous Love may seek the grave,
Or mourn the violated vow of bliss,
Yet, here shall faithful love the maiden save,
And parents cheer her with approving kiss.

Their thanks in rapture shall the Bridegrooms give,
Sweetly meandering amidst the shades;
For Shades shall be where now the Thistles live
Guarding th' expanse from man with pointed blades.

For Nature's self to Commerce ever yields,
Kind social Commerce every climate blends!
Transforms the drear dun heath to cheerful fields,
Or through the desart fruitful streamlets sends.

Yes, that great power will here exert its force,
Will change these heaths to richest fruitful farms,
Bid stranger riv'lets wind their silvery course,
Make sterile Moors display exotic charms.

And bounteous L EARNING too shall raise its pile,
Designed the fret of Ages to withstand;
Within, the classic scholar form his stile,
To pour instruction through the list'ning land!

Yes, from this source may future sages burst
To charm abroad, ameliorate at home;
A T HOMPSON in its cells be haply nursed,
A B LAIR give splendor to th' enlight'ning dome.

The Lawyer here shall gain the precious seed
Of growing honours, dignity, and fame,
Here shall ensure the future splendid meed,
That crowns his labour, and extends his name.

A M ANSFIELD , E RSKINE , L OUGHBOROUGH , shall arise
The boast of Genius in the unborn times,
Our glory spreading 'neath the distant skies,
And mark us envied by less gifted climes.

P HILOSOPHY 's profound disciples too,
Shall in its aisles a new Lyceum find;
Uncasuist Ethics, system plain, and true,
May here ennoble the well tutor'd mind.

A H UME !—a second H UME from hence may shine,
In Lustre like the first, but oh! his Heart
Shall humbly shrink before Religion's shrine,
And prompt his Talents to a better part!

A R OBERTSON may hence, with copious stream
Of long collected knowledge, fill his page,
Dark Ages make by light reverted gleam,
And rightful Freedom trace, from stage to stage.

And ah! whilst future Laurels verdant spread
Will not the Myrtle for our Females grow?
Yes, whilst the Laurel crowns the manly head,
The blossoms for the fair shall livelier blow.

Another S EWARD may deserve the prize,
Like her whose pensive and mellifluous throat,
Where'er misfortune scowls with cheerless eyes,
Pours forth her soothing her reviving note.

Sweet, as her fond complaint throughout the eve,
Rings through the leafy grove the tender Dove,
Till, so endear'd the scene, the Light we grieve,
Detest the sprightlier note, and Sorrow love!

Another B ARBAULD , here, the new born Isle,
That lately sprang amidst Norwegian seas,
May deck with all the fervor of the Stile
That endless Fame to C ORSICA decrees!

Descriptive, powerful, strong, as her, in verse,
When, with L ONGINUS ' nerve, and Graces meet,
She wills the Isle, in Measures rich though terse,
To live with H OMER 's Tenedos and Crete.

She'll raise the veil of Time! and show us how
The cindery mass the climate works refines,
What the vast produce, though all unborn now,
And all its Changes, in her magic lines!

May show the land which would, beneath the skies,
Of soft Italia, bloom with scented Flowers,
Its surface deck with nature's richest dyes,
And swell in Hills, and give soft Shade in Bowers,

May show it here, divest of every sweet
That could endear it to the eye of taste,
No Flowers, no Rills, the wandering eye to meet,
No rural Beauty, all one dreary Waste!

But, though not sweet, the scenery will be grand!
Not rills, but Torrents will her muse display;
To roar, when mellowing southern winds breathe bland,
Grow dumb and stiffen, in the wintery ray.

No gentle Hills, but Mountains vast will show,
Whose cracking Pines confess strong Boreas' might,
Whilst bright Volcanoes from their summits glow,
And spread, o'er plains around, their awful light!

Arcades and Temples e'en her muse will sing,
But not of Marble formed, nor part for part;
N ATURE will there the Noble Sculpture bring,
Wildly magnificent, not curbed by Art!

The frozen cataract a dome will form,
From streams arrested ice-formed pillars rise,
Their Capitals be sculptured by a Storm,
That carves whilst rushing from the Zemblian skies.

The Polar Sun will pour its scanty beams,
To tint the glacid scene with shifting hues;
Now strong, now fading into fainter gleams,
Or seen a general ruddy blaze t' effuse.

Where others could but give unskilful sketch,
A Barbauld's pencil would the beauties seize,
No lesser genius, on its utmost stretch,
Could make the frigid, cheerless, landscape please!

When man's attention, worn by scenes like these,
Retreating wishes for familiar hours;
And seeks the lounging seat, the robe of ease,
And gladly yields to Common Life its powers,

Some future B URNEY then may sooth the breast,
From Nature drawing with a skill so true,
'Twill stand in every varying mode confest,
Distinctly courting the enquirer's view!

A Power peculiar, will her portraits fill;
When lines are bold, and strong, a vulgar pen
The sketch may take; it asks no mighty Skill
Misers to paint, or mad, or wayward, men,

But human nature, in its faintest dye,
Will she detect, and drag to open day,
Make evident what slipped th' unmarking eye,
And bid it glare, with Truth's pervading ray!

The huddled beings of the common mass,
Who, to themselves, appear of equal kind,
Will not in unawakened error pass
Where'er is known a keen-eyed Burney's mind!

Touched by her spear, they'll sudden spring to sight;
But not new formed, she'll shew them as they are,
Will mold no character, but give t