Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Harp of Renfrewshire

148
Towering aloft, through paths inviting, lies.
Than to be tuck'd unto a russet gown ;
Henceforth I'll try my fortunes in the town.
This morn a nymph, transcending all her sex,
Her hopes and fortunes will to mine affix ;
Shall baulk paternal duty of his charge,
And like a new fledg'd nestling fly at large.
Who knows but Fate may to our fortunes tix
A splendid mansion, with a coach and six ?
Then fruitful joys, like rushes shall abound,
That spring spontaneous, in a marshy ground.'
With powerful wand the Hebrew prophet stood,
And chang'd Nile's fruitful current into blood,
Wav'd up the locust's desolating bands,
And chang'd to noisome lice, the pregnant sands.
So chang'd the scene before Myrtillus' sight.
And sickly seem'd the field, tho' summer-bright ;
Echo vmcadenc'd struck his poison'd ear.
Nor bird, nor brook, symphonious, could appear ;
He lean'd his sickly head on Alceus' breast.
And thus his quivering lips his mind express'd :
' And wilt thou leave thy protege alone,
How dark the cloud thou o'er the sun hast thrown,
Rather than hear such tidings wo\ild I meet
A serpent nestling in my mossy seat ;
Would find a toad in every path I tx'ead.
And every rock chang'd to a Gorgon's head ;
With less compunction have beheld the storm
Unleaf the grove — the flowery mead deform.
Permit my humbler fates with thine to blend,
Attendant on the fortunes of my friend. '
Thus inex]3erience, like olden knight,
That giants dar'd, and monsters, unto fight.
Clad in credulity's untemper'd mail.