Classic Poem

I SIT on a lonely height,
Gazing, musing, the lay saith
" The world's guile, life's poor respite,
All flesh — are a prey to death. "

O! all I see I dearly prize,
" Queen of the bens, grim gloomily,
Thy lofty peak I'd recognise
Howe'er far I strayed from thee.

" O ancient Blaven, forest free,
Where hunted my ancestry,
With secret power answer me,
Since I've never roamed on thee!

" And tell the romantic tale of old,
Demonstrating every age
From the days that by have rolled
To this sad hour's present stage. "

That power swam into my ken
Just as I wished or with more force,
Though dullards dense don't understand
Or properly search out its source.

But not far off I heard a sigh,
A bay of woe, with weak voice say,
" I'd mourn thee broadcasting thy cry,
Like a sheep wandered, cast away.

" I knew thy race, glad was their way
The hill to traverse with no rest,
But I've been missing for a day
Thy folk's murmur in my forest.

" The places all have lost their bloom,
The crowd its note of melody,
And each bold wight gone to his tomb,
The harp has let its music die.

" And halting echo, speechless grown,
Hears no war-cry or blithe strain,
Ah! that the Son of the Rocks has gone,
Nor answers, as he ought, again.

" I am as I have ever been
Since the sun lit up the day,
Ere since by night did the moon gleam,
Have my foundations held their stay.

" Before the flood came from above
Were my root foundations set,
Them no power will ever move,
I'll stay forever on them yet.

" But I've no proper earthly lord,
My charge on Leod, a valid claim,
But had I power to pass o'er,
Pay would Dun-can for the same. "