elegy on the death of sir james hunter blair

the lamp of day, with—ill presaging glare,

dim, cloudy, sank beneath the western wave;

th' inconstant blast howl'd thro' the dark'ning air,

and hollow whistled in the rocky cave.

lone as i wander'd by each cliff and dell,

once the lov'd haunts of scotia's royal train;

or mus'd where limpid streams, once hallow'd well,

or mould'ring ruins mark the sacred fane.

th' increasing blast roar'd round the beetling rocks,

the clouds swift-wing'd flew o'er the starry sky,

the groaning trees untimely shed their locks,

and shooting meteors caught the startled eye.

the paly moon rose in the livid east.

and 'mong the cliffs disclos'd a stately form

in weeds of woe, that frantic beat her breast,

and mix'd her wailings with the raving storm

wild to my heart the filial pulses glow,

'twas caledonia's trophied shield i view'd:

her form majestic droop'd in pensive woe,

the lightning of her eye in tears imbued.

revers'd that spear, redoubtable in war,

reclined that banner, erst in fields unfurl'd,