"There!" said a Stripling, pointing with meet pride Towards a low roof with green trees half concealed, "Is Mosgiel Farm; and that's the very field Where Burns ploughed up the Daisy."[933] Far and wide A plain below stretched seaward, while, descried 5 Above sea-clouds, the Peaks of Arran rose; And, by that simple notice, the repose Of earth, sky, sea, and air, was vivified. Beneath "the random _bield_ of clod or stone" Myriads of daisies have shone forth in flower 10 Near the lark's nest, and in their natural hour Have passed away; less happy than the One That, by the unwilling ploughshare, died to prove The tender charm of poetry and love. FOOTNOTES: [933] See Burns's poem _To a Mountain Daisy_, or as it was originally called, _The Gowan_.--ED. XXXVIII THE RIVER EDEN, CUMBERLAND ["Nature gives thee flowers That have no rivals among British bowers." This can scarcely be true to the letter; but, without stretching the point at all, I can say that the soil and air appear more congenial with many upon the banks of this river than I have observed in any other parts of Great Britain.--I. F.] Eden! till now thy beauty had I viewed By glimpses only, and confess with shame That verse of mine, whate'er its varying mood, Repeats but once the sound of thy sweet name:[934] Yet fetched from Paradise[935] that honour came, 5 Rightfully borne; for Nature gives thee flowers That have no rivals among British bowers; And thy bold rocks are worthy of their fame.[936] Measuring thy course, fair Stream! at length I pay[937] To my life's neighbour dues of neighbourhood; 10 But I have traced thee on thy winding way[938] With pleasure sometimes by this thought restrained For things far off we toil, while many a good[939] Not sought, because too near, is never gained.[940] FOOTNOTES: [934] 1835. Full long thy beauty, Eden, had I viewed, By glimpses only ... MS. Eden! the Muse has wronged thee, be the shame Frankly acknowledged, in no careless mood Of memory, my verse have I reviewed And met but once the sound of thy sweet name: MS.