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Or when they struck old Scotia's melting airs,
The lover's raptur'd joys or bleeding cares;
How would his Highland lug been nobler fir'd,
And ev'n his matchless hand with finer touch inspir'd
No guess could tell what instrument appear'd,
But all the soul of Music's self was heard;
Harmonious concert rung in ev'ry part,
While simple melody pour'd moving on the heart.
The Genius of the stream in front appears,
A venerable chief advanc'd in years,
His hoary head with water-lillies crown'd,
His manly leg with garter tangle bound.
Next came the loveliest pair in all the ring,
Sweet female Beauty, hand in hand with Spring:
Then crown'd with flowery bay, came Rural Joy,
And Summer, with his fervid beaming eye:
All-chearing Plenty, with her flowing horn,
Led yellow Autumn wreath'd with nodding corn:
Then Winter's time-bleach'd locks did hoary show,
By Hospitality with cloudless brow.
Next follow'd Courage, with his martial stride,
From whence the Feal wild woody coverts hide:
Benevolence, with mild, benignant air,
A female form, came from the towers of Stair:
Learning and worth in equal measures trode,
From simple Catrine, their long-liv'd abode:
They footed o'er the watery glass so neat,
The infant Ice, scarce bent beneath their feet.
Last white-rob'd Peace, crown'd with a hazle wreath
To rustic Agriculture did bequeath
The broken iron instruments of death:
At sight of which, our Sp'rits forgat their kindling wrath.
The lover's raptur'd joys or bleeding cares;
How would his Highland lug been nobler fir'd,
And ev'n his matchless hand with finer touch inspir'd
No guess could tell what instrument appear'd,
But all the soul of Music's self was heard;
Harmonious concert rung in ev'ry part,
While simple melody pour'd moving on the heart.
The Genius of the stream in front appears,
A venerable chief advanc'd in years,
His hoary head with water-lillies crown'd,
His manly leg with garter tangle bound.
Next came the loveliest pair in all the ring,
Sweet female Beauty, hand in hand with Spring:
Then crown'd with flowery bay, came Rural Joy,
And Summer, with his fervid beaming eye:
All-chearing Plenty, with her flowing horn,
Led yellow Autumn wreath'd with nodding corn:
Then Winter's time-bleach'd locks did hoary show,
By Hospitality with cloudless brow.
Next follow'd Courage, with his martial stride,
From whence the Feal wild woody coverts hide:
Benevolence, with mild, benignant air,
A female form, came from the towers of Stair:
Learning and worth in equal measures trode,
From simple Catrine, their long-liv'd abode:
They footed o'er the watery glass so neat,
The infant Ice, scarce bent beneath their feet.
Last white-rob'd Peace, crown'd with a hazle wreath
To rustic Agriculture did bequeath
The broken iron instruments of death:
At sight of which, our Sp'rits forgat their kindling wrath.
