Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/813

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When the bold kindred, in the time long-vanish'd, Conquer'd the soil and fortified the keep,

No seer foretold the children would be banish'd, That a degenerate Lord might boast his sheep: Fair these broad meads, &c.

Come foreign rage let Discord burst in slaughter' O then for clansmen true, and stern claymore The hearts that would have given their blood like water Beat heavily beyond the Atlantic roar:

Fair these broad meads these hoary woods are grand But we are exiles from our fathers' land.

��WILLIAM THOM

664 The Blind Boy's Prmks

r EN grew sae cauld, maids sae unkind,

Love kentna whaur to stay: Wi' ficnt an arrow, bow, or string Wi' droopm' heart an' drizzled wing, He faught his lonely way.

'Is there nae mair in Garioch fair

Ae spotless hame for me^ Hae politics an' corn an' kye Ilk bosom stappit ? Fie, O fie!

I'll swithe me o'er the sea.'

He launch'd a leaf o' jessamine,

On whilk he daur'd to swim, An' pillow'd his head on a wee rosebud, Syne laithfu', lanely, Love 'gan scud

Down Ury's waefu' stream.

664 kentna] knew not. wi fient an arrow] i.q. with deuce an arrow. swithe] hie quickly. laithfu'] regretful.

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