Lives of Scottish Poets: With Portraits and Vignettes, Volume 3

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Page 44 - I had been for some days skulking from covert to covert, under all the terrors of a jail; as some ill-advised people had uncoupled the merciless pack of the law at my heels. I had taken the last farewell of my few friends; my chest was on the road to Greenock: I had composed the last song I should ever measure in Caledonia, The Gloomy Night is Gathering Fast...
Page 19 - Now, Spring returns : but not to me returns The vernal joy my better years have known ; Dim in my breast life's dying taper burns, And all the joys of life with health are flown.
Page 20 - And count the silent moments as they pass : The winged moments, whose unstaying speed No art can stop, or in their course arrest; Whose flight shall shortly count me with the dead, And lay me down in peace with them that rest.
Page 44 - ... beneficence, exerted under numerous and formidable disadvantages ; but none equal to that with which you have been kind enough to present me. There is a pathos and delicacy in his serious poems ; a vein of wit and humour in those of a more festive turn, which cannot be too much admired, nor too warmly approved ; and I think I shall never open the book without feeling my astonishment renewed and increased.
Page 135 - On fasten-een we had a rockin, To ca' the crack and weave our stockin ; And there was muckle fun and jokin, Ye need na doubt ; At length we had a hearty yokin At sang about. There was ae sang, amang the rest, Aboon them a...
Page 37 - The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despis'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes...
Page 106 - Friendship ! mysterious cement of the soul ! Sweet'ner of life ! and solder of society ! I owe thee much.
Page 69 - With horror fraught, the dreadful scene drew near. The ship hangs hovering on the verge of death, Hell yawns, rocks rise, and breakers roar beneath. In vain, alas! the sacred shades of yore Would arm the mind with philosophic lore; In vain they'd teach us, at the latest breath, To smile serene amid the pangs of death.
Page 82 - I assure you, my dear sir, that you truly hurt me with your pecuniary parcel. It degrades me in my own eyes.
Page 35 - And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

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