Since risen from ocean, ocean to defy, Appeared the Crag of Ailsa, ne'er did morn With gleaming lights more gracefully adorn His sides, or wreathe with mist his forehead high: Now, faintly darkening with the sun's eclipse,[882] 5 Still is he seen, in lone sublimity, Towering above the sea and little ships; For dwarfs the tallest seem while sailing by, Each for her haven; with her freight of Care, Pleasure, or Grief, and Toil that seldom looks 10 Into the secret of to-morrow's fare; Though poor, yet rich, without the wealth of books, Or aught that watchful Love to Nature owes For her mute Powers, fix'd Forms, or[883] transient Shows. FOOTNOTES: [881] 1845. IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE, AILSA CRAG. (July 17, 1833) 1835. IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE, AILSA CRAG. (July 17) 1837. [882] Compare _The Eclipse of the Sun_, 1820, in the "Memorials of a Tour on the Continent, 1820" (vol. vi. p. 345).--ED. [883] 1837. ... and ... 1835. XXIV ON THE FRITH OF CLYDE (IN A STEAM-BOAT) [The mountain outline on the north of this island, as seen from the Frith of Clyde,[884] is much the finest I have ever noticed in Scotland or elsewhere--I.F.] Arran! a single-crested Teneriffe, A St. Helena next--in shape and hue, Varying her crowded peaks and ridges blue; Who but must covet a cloud-seat, or skiff Built for the air, or winged Hippogriff? 5 That he might fly, where no one could pursue, From this dull Monster and her sooty crew; And, as[885] a God, light on thy topmost cliff. Impotent wish! which reason would despise If the mind knew no union of extremes, 10 No natural bond between the boldest schemes Ambition frames, and heart-humilities.[886] Beneath stern mountains many a soft vale lies, And lofty springs give birth to lowly streams. FOOTNOTES: [884] He doubtless refers to the view of Goatfell and Kaim-na-Calliach, with Loch Ranza in front.--ED. [885] 1837. And, like ... 1835. [886] Compare _The Triad_, II. 145-148-- High is her aim as heaven above, And wide as ether her good-will; And, like the lowly reed, her love Can drink its nurture from the scantiest rill.--ED. XXV ON REVISITING DUNOLLY CASTLE (See former series, "Yarrow Revisited," etc., p. 278.)