Selected Poetry.

Evening Star, Issue 4284, 18 November 1876, Page 4

Selected Poetry.

JAMIE'S EPISTLE TO THE LONDON AinENT THE VISION ON OORSTORPHINE TOWER.

Auld Reekie, August 17,1876 Dear Fbkbns,— I dreamt ae morn I took a stride, Wi' bricht M'Clevey by my side,

An' Gardner—brithers dear. , We journeyed on, wi' right gnid will, Up fair Corstorphine's breezy hill, — Weel prim'd wi' goodly cheer. Rest-and-be-Thankfu' charm'd our sicht,

A pleasant rural bower; Syne climbing farther up the hicht, We spied a lofty tower. Surrounded, an' bounded By mony a waving tree ; While birds sang, an' woods rang Wi' joyous melody, Rieht soon to our bewilder'd view, An iron gate wide open flew, • An' swiftly we ascended A staircase'wormin' roun' an' roun', That made us dizzy in the croon, Till thankfully it ended. But when the summit we had gain'd,

The fient a haet we saw, Save gloomy vapour wreaths that reign'd Ower mountain, hill, and ha'. Nocht cheering approaching, We socht the spiral stair; Lamenting an' venting Our wrath on empty air. But scarcely had we ventured doun, When lo! a strange unearthly soun' Quick made us turn an' glower; Then soon before our loupin' e'en, A bricht majestic form was seen, High standing on the Tower. He wore a plaid o' Waverley, Wi' rose an' thistletwining ; An'ower his locks o' silver gray, , A glory bricht was shining. .Dumfounder'd, we wonder'd, Impress'd wi' solemn awe; • Astounded, confounded—'T»a» Walter Seott we saw! Then waving high his silver wand, ~Wi' gracefu' sweep ower sea an' land, The misty vapors roll'd Afar through realms o' trackless space, Revealing mony a distant place, Right pleasant to behold. Nae mair, wi' murky glooms owercast, The snn thocht fit to hide ; But piercing through the clouds at last, Shone forth in regal pride. 'Twas charming, heart-vanning, To view his dazzling sheen,

Bright gleaming, bright streaming; Ower hills and valleys green. Then rose the coast o' Fife in view, The rolling Forth o' radiant blue, The distant Isle o' May; The frowning Bass, North Berwick Law, The Lomond Taps, where breezes blaw, Dunfermline's Abbey grey; Fair Wooer's Alley, verdure crown'd, Where dwelt, 'mid sylvan pleasures, . The kindly Joseph, * wide, renown'd For antiquarian treasures .Surprising ; syneTOing, -~- Wi' mony a mile between, Cloud blending, far trending, The Ochil Hills sae green.

Fair Stirling's turrets, sparkling bright, The Abbey Craig, that crowns its height Wi' monument to Wallace wight,— Auld Scotland's pride and joy; Then saw we tow'ring to the sky, Ben Ledi wi' Ben Lomond vie, Queen o' the Grampian Mountains high, Land o' the bold Rob Roy; Bauld Tintook Tap, wi' purple croun; The breezy Pentland Hills, Where blithely dance to Reekie's toun, The foaming silver rills ; Wide reaching, wide stretching, The lanely Lammermoors Far downward; while onward, *•■ ■ The German Ocean roars—

o\jrer Cramond's.lsle our vision sixjiy'cL. Owerfair Dalmeny's sylvan shade ;"' Ower Blackford, and the Hills o' Braid; Qwer Arjbhur Seat renown'd ; Wliere, monarch o' the mountain lone, Proud oouching on his verdant throne,' The Lion o' St. Leonard's shone, .Wi' hoary grandeur crown'd; Close by, 'neath fragrant spreading shaws, Where wave the wild blue bells, Arose Corstorphine's cheery ha's, Green fields, and flowery dells But fairest and rarest 0' a' that met pur e'e On braeside, or wayside, Was bonnie Clerwoodlee. Fu' lane the Minstrel look'd aroun' Wi' pride on Reekie's bonnie toun ; While joyous cheer, and trumpet soun', Fell faintly on the ear; Then cried aloud, wi' sparkling e'e, ''Welcome, Victoria! hail to thee! O'er all that rule the earth and sea, Empress without a peer ! Through all the ocean-girdled isles, That own thy wide domain, Nor factious rage, nor trait'rous wiles, Disturb thy glorious reign. Transcendent j resplendent, Thy banner waves unfurl'd, Wide streaming, bright gleaming, ~„ The envy of the world. "Welcometo fair Dunedin's bowers : Her lordly halls and regal towers, Enwreath'd' with bannerets and flo wers, Fond, wishes breathe to thee. Hark to the shouts that greet thy name ! Hark to the bugle's loud acclaim! 801 l on, 'the chariot of thy fame, Queen of the Brave and Free! Through mighty myriads, vast and dense, Though rdvest void of fear; The people's love thy sure defence, — Thy buckler, Bword, and spear. God's blessing possessing, Thy- days illustrious shine With glory ; uhile o'er thee, Peace, love, and joy entwine.

"Lo ! 'mid the warlike trumpet's blare, And cheers that* rend the balmy air, Behold-nnveil'd a Stotue fair, — True Hkenesa of the dead! Calmly'majestic a*nd serene, Prince Albert looks upon his Queen, Who thinks on all that once, hath been,; And lowly bows hey 'head... Memorial of hardy North; Embalm'd in sighs and tears ; Fond tribute to departed worth, Through all4he rolling years Descending, unending 7 Proclaiming, Queen of Fame, The grandeur,'the splendour r. -That crowns thy Husband's name. ••• Oh ! when on yonder shining plain, Thoul't meetthy. well- belov'd again; And .dwell where joys immortal reign, Mid pleasures ever new ; May~Albert Edward's soul aspire~ Burning with virtue's sacred fire— To emulate "his noble Sire, Albert and True. So shall his flag triumphant wave With stainless honor crown'd; A King magnanimous and brave— * A Monaroh wide renown'd;

• Tfct£jato Joseph Patpn, Esq., of Wooer's AUejr,

Right royal; while loyal And happy subjects sing— Glad sounding, hearts bpuncUng,.. . ... ' Long live our gracious King 1 " The gloriqus Vision spoke nae mair, But ower Auld Reekie breathed a prayer; Then gazing through the upper air, He way'd lm silver wand. Prom rosy bowers o' bliss on high, Mid strains o' sweetest minstrelsy, A golden cloud oame floating by, That bore a shining band. Twas Wallace, Bruce, and Burns we saw— Auld Scotland's boast and pride; Kindly Sir Wallace hailed them a', Syne sat by Robbie's side. Hearts filling, hearts thrilling, We saw the cloud arise, High tow'ring, high soaring, Till lost in radiartt skies ! The above poem appeared in the ' London Scottish Journal,' and with reference to it a gentleman in Edinburgh has received a letter, of which the subjoined is a copy : " Lieut.-General Sir T. M. Biddulph has received the Queen's commands to acknowledge the receipt of JMr James Smith's poem on the Albert Memorial. Buckingham Palace, August 30, 1876."