Blair Collection > Poems and songs

38 GAELIC AXD ENGLISH POEMS.
Laid low by no untimely stroke,
But ripe in honours as in years,
Though stately bough of the great oak,
That ages to our land endears.
Friend of the poor in time of need,
Thou laid'st the topstone on the cairn
Of many a good and gallant deed
Done by the house of Fassifern.
The house that gave brave heroes birth —
Whose banners waved in many a clime —
The flowers of chivalry and worth —
Who made whate'er they touched sublime.
S})rung from Lochiel — their heroes shed
A halo round that martial name ;
And gathered flowers, where'er they led.
For proud Britannia's wreath of fame.
The good Sir Ewen's counsel sage
Did oft the poor from wrong defend ;
The guide of youth, the crutch of age,
Oppression's foe, and virtue's friend.
And thou, of his brave sons the last,
A harvest rich of love didst reap.
Then smiling o'er thy laboixrs past.
So calmly went in peace to sleep.
The woodland choir with songs will haunt
Thy lone home by the silvery sea,
Whose rippling waves so quaintly chant
Their low sweet requiem to thee.
The flowers that bloom around thy grave —
The fragrant birch at morn and even.
Sweet incense from their censers wave
Memorials of thee to heaven.
And tho' the wild bog-myrtle now
Is 'mong thine ancient oak-wreath twined,
]VIay she who wears it on her brow
Have honour, love, and joy combined.