Yet one fair Islet scorn'd his fierce career,Her fields unshadow'd and her fountains clear. As if his radiant shield some angel cast

O'er her young foliage, swept the tempest past.

Safe from the gusts that ravag'd hill and dale,

The waves rough-rolling, and the arrowy hail,
She smil❜d in loveliness, and on her breast

The storm-chased sun beams found a place of rest.

Bright shone that isle amid the flashing foam, But brighter, lovelier far, to me is Home.

What human tempests rage! In Europe's sky, Is the bright sign of mercy spread on high* ?

* "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be

B

No. Hid the sun, and quench'd each cheering star,

Still o'er her nations drives the storm of war;

Still, on their plains the crimson deluge spreads,

And lightnings, unexhausted, strike their heads.‡

Dread scenes, adieu! Thrice welcome, haunts obscure: Shunn'd be the view of ills I cannot cure.

Once glow'd my soul, delighting in the storm;

Once, even when danger wore his deadliest form,-
Turning the cheeks of more than cowards pale,—

I smil❜d, and deem'd that virtue must prevail.
"As soon from heaven the feeble arm of man

Shall tear the sun, as thwart th' Eternal's plan."

seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant which is between me and you, and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." Gen. c. ix. v. 13.

Written some years ago.

But when I saw destruction's sanguine flood,

Whelm with one wave the worthless and the good;

Saw godlike Virtue fall unknown, and Guilt

Sail safe to glory on the blood he spilt,

Then other thoughts arose,-compassion's train ;

But pity, unallied to power, is vain.

My heart, that, when the tempest, echoing, past,
Throbbed high in sad respondence to the blast,

Yet hop'd-vain hope to see its terrors cease,
And hail the brightness of enduring peace;

Deluded oft, forbears at last to roam,

And seeks the sure though humblė joys of Home.

Thus the tir'd dove, who issued to explore

If yet th' Immense of waters owned a shore,
When no emerging verdure charmed the sight,
On hasty pinions homeward urged his flight.

Scar'd by the tumult of the boundless tide,

Whose waves, earth's conquerors, still in triumph ride,

(For yet the mountain crests were faintly seen,

Nor rear'd the olive her pacific green)

Glad he returns, his calm abode resumes,

Brightens his purple neck, and smooths his ruffled plumes. (b)

Home! o'er me sure his spell some demon threw, And bade fair-seeming phantoms cheat my view; When from thy precincts stray'd my hopes afar,

And, seeking bliss, explor'd the fields of war.

No blooms delight in that sad region rears,

Whose streams are blood, whose dew the orphans' tears.

The spell dissolves. To thee my footsteps turn,

In whose fair circle, only, joys sojourn;

Yon skiff that fears to sink, the billows prey,

Less eager hastes to that protecting bay.

1

Swift as I move, where earth's best blessings dwell,

What glad presentiments my bosom swell!

What recollections! Memory's power restores,

Home of my childhood, thy beloved shores !

Fair, bursting through oblivion's mist, appear
Thy deep-green vales, bold hills, and fountains clear.
The days of new-born transport beam anew,

And Clyde's blue waters glitter on my view:

He mark'd my boyish sports.-Entranc'd I spy

His brown cliffs towering to the sunny sky;

Where, glens and wild woods trembling at the sound, O'er Corra's rock he springs with giant bound.

Below, his banks more beauteous hues assumé,

With hazels green, or bright with blossom'd broom.

Remoter still, his stream majestic glides,

Towers, temples, cities, glittering on his sides.