Will no one tell me what she sings?- Or is it some more humble lay, Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang X. ADDRESS TO KILCHURN CASTLE, UPON LOCH AWE. "From the top of the hill a most impressive scene opened upon our view, a ruined Castle on an Island (for an Island the flood had made it) at some distance from the shore, backed by a Cove of the Mountain Cruachan, down which came a foaming stream. The Castle occupied every foot of the Island that was visible to us, appearing to rise out of the water, - -mists rested upon the mountain-side, with spots of sunshine; there was a mild desolation in the low grounds, a solemn grandeur in the mountains, and the Castle was wild, yet stately, not dismantled of turrets, nor the walls broken down, though obviously a ruin.” — Extract from the Journai of my Companion. CHILD of loud-throated War! the mountain Stream Save when the wind sweeps by and sounds are caught Ambiguous, neither wholly thine nor theirs. O there is life that breathes not! Powers there are Take, then, thy seat, Vicegerent unreproved! Do thou, in turn, be paramount; and rule Two Hearts, which in thy presence might be called The chronicle were welcome that should call The toils and struggles of thy infant years! Lost on the aërial heights of the Crusades!* * The tradition is, that the Castle was built by a Lady during the absence of her Lord in Palestine. XI. ROB ROY'S GRAVE. The history of Rob Roy is sufficiently known; his grave is near the head of Loch Ketterine, in one of those small pinfoldike burial-grounds, of neglected and desolate appearance which the traveller meets with in the Highlands of Scotland. A FAMOUS man is Robin Hood, Then clear the weeds from off his Grave, Heaven gave Rob Roy a dauntless heart Yet was Rob Roy as wise as brave; Must scorn a timid song. Say, then, that he was wise as brave; He sought his moral creed. Said generous Rob, "What need of books? Burn all the statutes and their shelves: They stir us up against our kind; And worse, against ourselves. "We have a passion, — make a law, Too false to guide us or control! And for the law itself we fight 66 In bitterness of soul. And, puzzled, blinded thus, we lose Distinctions that are plain and few: These find I graven on my heart : That tells me what to do. "The creatures see of flood and field, "For why?-because the good old rule Sufficeth them, the simple plan, That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can. "A lesson that is quickly learned, A signal this which all can see! |