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Auld Rob maintained them baith, and, wi' tears in his e'e, Said, Jennie, for their sakes, oh marry me !

My heart it said nay; I looked for Jamie back;

But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wrack; His ship it was a wrack-why didna Jamie dee?

Or why do I live to cry, Wae's me?

My father urgit sair my mother didna speak;

But she looked in my face till my heart was like to break :
They gi'ed him my hand, but my heart was at the sea;
Sae auld Robin Gray he was gudeman to me.

I hadna been a wife a week but only four,
When mournfu' as I sat on the stane at the door,
I saw my Jamie's wraith, for I couldna think it he
Till he said, I'm come hame to marry thee.

O sair, sair did we greet, and muckle did we say;
We took but ae kiss, and I bade him gang away :
I wish that I were dead, but I'm no like to dee;
And why was I born to say, Wae's me!

I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin;
I daurna think on Jamie, for that wad be a sin;
But I'll do my best a gude wife aye to be,
For auld Robin Gray he is kind unto me.

LADY NAIRNE.

Born 1766. Died 1845.

THE LAND O' THE LEAL.

I'm wearin' awa', Jean,

Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, Jean,

I'm wearin' awa'

To the land o' the leal.

There's nae sorrow there, Jean,
There's neither cauld nor care, Jean,
The day is aye fair

In the land o' the leal.

Our bonnie bairn's there, Jean,

She was baith gude and fair, Jean,

And oh we grudged her sair
To the land o' the leal.

But sorrow's sel' wears past, Jean,
And joy's a-comin' fast, Jean,
The joy that's aye to last

In the land o' the leal.

Sae dear that joy was bought, Jean,
Sae free the battle fought, Jean,
That sinfu' man e'er brought

To the land o' the leal.

Oh! dry your glistening e'e, Jean,
My soul langs to be free, Jean,
And angels beckon me

To the land o' the leal.

Oh! haud ye leal and true, Jean,
Your day it's wearin' through, Jean,
And I'll welcome you

To the land o' the leal.

Now fare-ye-weel, my ain Jean,
The world's cares are vain, Jean,
We'll meet, and we'll be fain
In the land o' the leal.

WILLIAM BLAKE.

· Born 1757. Died 1827.

SONG.

How sweet I roamed from field to field,
And tasted all the summer's pride;
Till I the Prince of Love beheld,
Who in the sunny beams did glide.

He showed me lilies for my hair,
And blushing roses for my brow;
And led me through his gardens fair,
Where all his golden pleasures grow.

With sweet May-dews my wings were wet,
And Phoebus fired my vocal rage ;
He caught me in his silken net,
And shut me in his golden cage.

He loves to sit and hear me sing,

Then laughing sports and plays with me,
Then stretches out my golden wing,
And mocks my loss of liberty.

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Nineteenth Century.

WILLIAM WORDWSORTH.

Born 1770. Died 1850.

MIST OPENING IN THE HILLS.

So was he lifted gently from the ground,

And with their freight homeward the shepherds moved Through the dull mist, I following when a step,

A single step, that freed me from the skirts

Of the blind vapour, opened to my view

Glory beyond all glory ever seen

By waking sense or by the dreaming soul !
The appearance, instantaneously disclosed,
Was of a mighty city-boldly say

A wilderness of building, sinking far
And self-withdrawn into a boundless depth
Far sinking into splendour-without end!
Fabric it seemed of diamond and of gold,
With alabaster domes, and silver spires,
And blazing terrace upon terrace, high
Uplifted; here, serene pavilions bright,
In avenues disposed; there, towers begirt
With battlements that on their restless fronts
Bore stars-illumination of all gems!

By earthly nature had the effect been wrought
Upon the dark materials of the storm

Now pacified on them, and on the coves

And mountain steeps and summits, whereunto

The vapours had receded, taking there

Their station under a cerulean sky.

Oh, 'twas an unimaginable sight!

Clouds, mists, streams, watery rocks and emerald turf,

Clouds of all tincture, rocks and sapphire sky

Confused, commingled, mutually inflamed,

Molten together, and composing thus,

Each lost in each, that marvellous array
Of temple, palace, citadel, and huge
Fantastic pomp of structure without name,
In fleecy folds voluminous enwrapped.

Right in the midst, where interspace appeared

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