CLYDE A POEM.

CANTO I.

ANALYSIS OF CANTO I.

INVOCATION-Inscription of the poem to Lady HyndfordRise of Clyde-Address to Tweed and Annan-Lead-minesFlocks-Morning-Shepherd life, in these districts, compared with that of Arcadia-Bagbie, Lamington, Lockhart-hall, with allusions to family history-Appearance of the different kinds of grain-Clyde compared to Britannia's king surrounded by his vassals-The Sower-Dangers to which the seed is exposed-Generation of Insects-Mowers-Reapers-TintoDouglas Castle-Legend concerning it-Origin of the Clan Douglas-Origin of Somerville-Falls of the Clyde-Lanark -Peaceful regulations of Kenneth-Death of the wife of Wallace by Hazelrig-Allusion to the battle of Agricola and Galgacus-Lockhart-Stonebyres-Origin of the family of Vere -Appearances of forest and fruit trees-Music of birdsNoon-Thunder-storm- - Craignethan-Dalserf-DalzielAvondale-Chattelherault-Hamilton-Account of the family of Hamilton-Fox-hunting-Stag-hunting-Spawning of salmon-Scottish bison-Bothwell, the ancient seat of the Murrays-Allusion to the battle of Bothwell-bridge-CalderWoodhall, the seat of Campbell of Isla.

CLYDE.

THY arching groves, O CLYDE, thy fertile plains,
Thy towns and villas, claim my filial strains.

Ye Powers! who o'er these winding dales preside,
Who shake the woods, who roll the river's tide;
Who wake the sylvan song, whose pencils pour
The forms of beauty o'er each painted flower;
Inspire the numbers, let the verse display
The charms that grace the imitative lay.
When gently flows the stream, then let the song
In softest, easiest numbers glide along:
When swell'd with rains, o'er rocks it rages fierce,
Swell, rage, and roar, and thunder in my verse.

And thou! to whom indulgent Heaven consigned
The power to bless, the fair angelic mind;
Form'd thy soft breast to melt at human woe,
Generous to cherish worth, and wise to know;
Each finer passion of the breast to move,
To awe with virtue, and inspire with love;
With native goodness all mankind to charm ;
With love thy noble HYNDFORD's soul to warm;
This tribute of a humble muse regard,

Who scorns to flatter, or to court reward;
Who, proud to mark with partial eye the fair,
Still makes their virtue and their charms her care;
But chiefly joys to pour her peaceful strains
On CLYDE's delightful banks and fruitful plains.

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