Everything did banish moan, And there sung the dolefull'st ditty, 'Fie, fie, fie,' now would she cry; Senseless trees, they cannot hear thee, All thy friends are lapp'd in lead; Whilst as fickle Fortune smiled, Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find. Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend: If he be addict to vice, ALEXANDER HUME. THIS Scottish poet was the second son of Patrick, fifth Baron of Polwarth. He was born about the middle of the sixteenth century, and died in 1609. He resided for some years, in the early part of his life, in France. Returning home, he studied law, and then tried his fortune at Court. Here he was eclipsed by a rival, named Montgomery; and after assailing his rival, who rejoined, in verse, he became a clergyman in disgust, and was settled in the parish of Logie. Here he darkened into a sour and savage Calvinist, and uttered an exhortation to the youth of Scotland to forego the admiration of classical heroes, and to read no love-poetry save the 'Song of Solomon.' In another poetic walk, however, that of natural description, Hume excelled, and we print with pleasure some parts of his 'Summer's Day,' which our readers may compare with Mr Aird's fine poem under the same title, and be convinced that the sky of Scotland was as blue, and the grass as green, and Scottish eyes as quick to perceive their beauty, in the sixteenth century as now. THANKS FOR A SUMMER'S DAY. 1 O perfect light which shade1 away 2 Thy glory, when the day forth flies, 3 The shadow of the earth anon 4 Which soon perceive the little larks, And tune their song like Nature's clerks, 5 But every bold nocturnal beast They hie away both maist and least,* 6 The golden globe incontinent Sets up his shining head, And o'er the earth and firmament Displays his beams abread.5 1.Shade:' for shaded.- 'Nor:' than.- 'Syne:' then.-Maist and least: largest and smallest.-Abread:' abroad. 7 For joy the birds with boulden1 throats, Take up their kindly music notes 8 Upbraids the careful husbandman, 9 The pastor quits the slothful sleep, 10 The passenger, from perils sure, 11 The misty reek, the clouds of rain 12 Begaired is the sapphire pend10 13 The ample heaven, of fabric sure, 6 'Boulden:' emboldened.- Sheen:' shining.-3 Upbraids:" uprises.-4 Timeous:' early.- Camow-nosed:' flat-nosed.- 6 'Rowting kye: lowing kine. Reek:' fog.-8 'Skails:' dissipates.-- Begaired:' dressed out.10 Pend:' arch.-11 Spraings:' streaks. The crystal and the silver, pure 14 The time so tranquil is and clear, 15 All trees and simples, great and small, 16 The rivers fresh, the caller2 streams, 17 Calm is the deep and purple sea, The waves, that woltering4 wont to be, 18 So silent is the cessile air, The hills and dales, and forest fair, 19 The clogged busy humming bees, On flowers and flourishes of trees, 6 Steir:' stir.- Caller:' cool.-Rin:' run.-4 Woltering:' tumbling. ''Drown:' drone, be idle. |