YE DEAR ROMANTIC
SHADES. Air—“Mrs.
Hamilton of Wishaw’s strathspey.”
___ FAR from the giddy court of mirth, Where sick’ning follies reign, By
Levern-banks I wander forth To hail each
silvan scene. All
hail, ye dear romantic shades! Ye
banks, ye woods, and sunny glades! Here
oft the musing poet treads, In nature’s riches great: Contrasts
the country with the town, Makes
nature’s beauties all his own, And
borne on fancy’s wings looks down On empty pride and
state. By
dewy dawn, or
sultry noon, Or sober evening gray, I’ll
often quit the dinsome town, By Levern-banks to stray; Or
from the upland’s mossy brow, Enjoy
the fancy-pleasing view, Of
streamlets, woods, and
fields below, A sweetly varied scene! Give
riches to the miser’s care, Let
folly shine in fashion’s glare, Give
me the wealth of peace and health, With all their
happy train. |