lament for james, earl of glencairn

the wind blew hollow frae the hills,

by fits the sun's departing beam

look'd on the fading yellow woods,

that wav'd o'er lugar's winding stream:

beneath a craigy steep, a bard,

laden with years and meikle pain,

in loud lament bewail'd his lord,

whom death had all untimely ta'en.

he lean'd him to an ancient aik,

whose trunk was mould'ring down with years;

his locks were bleached white with time,

his hoary cheek was wet wi' tears!

and as he touch'd his trembling harp,

and as he tun'd his doleful sang,

the winds, lamenting thro' their caves,

to echo bore the notes alang.

“ye scatter'd birds that faintly sing,

the reliques o' the vernal queir!

ye woods that shed on a' the winds

the honours of the aged year!

a few short months, and glad and gay,

again ye'll charm the ear and e'e;

but nocht in all-revolving time

can gladness bring again to me.

“i am a bending aged tree,

that long has stood the wind and rain;

but now hase a cruel blast,

and my last hald of earth is gane;

nae leaf o' mine shall greet the spring,

nae simmer sun exalt my bloom;

but i maun lie before the storm,

and ithers plant them in my room.

“i've seen sae mony changefu' years,

on earth i am a stranger grown:

i wander in the ways of men,

alike unknowing, and unknown:

unheard, unpitied, unreliev'd,

i bear alane my lade o' care,

for silent, low, on beds of dust,

lie a'