All hail, ye scenes that o'er my soul prevail! Ye splendid friths and lakes, which, far away, Are by smooth Annan[51] fill'd or pastoral Tay,[51] Or Don's[51] romantic springs at distance hail! The time shall come, when I, perhaps, may tread 210 Your lowly glens, o'erhung with spreading broom; Or, o'er your stretching heaths, by Fancy led; Or, o'er your mountains creep, in awful gloom! Then will I dress once more the faded bower, Where Jonson[52] sat in Drummond's classic shade; 215 Or crop, from Tiviotdale, each lyric flower, And mourn, on Yarrow's banks, where Willy's laid! Meantime, ye powers that on the plains which bore The cordial youth, on Lothian's plains,[53] attend!-- Where'er Home dwells, on hill, or lowly moor, 220 To him I lose, your kind protection lend, And, touch'd with love like mine, preserve my absent friend! VARIATIONS. Ver. 44. Whether thou bidst the well taught hind relate 51. The sturdy clans pour'd forth their bony swarms, 56. Or in the gloom of Uist's dark forest dwells: 58. With their own visions oft afflicted droop, 66. Their bidding mark, and at their beck repair: 100. At those sad hours the wily monster lies; 111. O'er its drowned bank, forbidding all return! 124. His babes shall linger at the cottage gate! 127. With dropping willows drest, his mournful sprite 130. Shall seem to press her cold and shuddering cheek, 133. Proceed, dear wife, thy daily toils pursue, 135. Nor e'er of me one hapless thought renew, 138. Unbounded is thy range; with varied stile 164. They drain the sainted spring; or, hunger-prest, 193. How have I trembled, when, at Tancred's side, Like him I stalk'd, and all his passions felt; When charm'd by Ismen, through the forest wide, Bark'd in each plant a talking spirit dwelt! 201. Hence, sure to charm, his early numbers flow, Though strong, yet sweet---- Though faithful, sweet; though strong, of simple kind. Hence, with each theme, he bids the bosom glow, While his warm lays an easy passage find, Pour'd through each inmost nerve, and lull the harmonious ear. 204. Melting it flows, pure, numerous, strong, and clear, 216. Or crop from Tiviot's dale each-- 220. Where'er he dwell, on hill, or lowly muir, FOOTNOTES: [40] How truly did Collins predict Home's tragic powers! [41] A gentleman of the name of Barrow, who introduced Home to Collins. Ed. 1788. [42] A summer hut, built in the high part of the mountains, to tend their flocks in the warm season, when the pasture is fine. Ed. 1788.