LATE PROFESSOR OF ORIENTAL LANGUAGES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH .
Mourn , Galovidia, o'er thy heathy bed!
Thy fav'rite child in the cold earth is laid!
Thy far-fam'd son, so skill'd in learned lore,
Shall teach our minds or mend our hearts no more!
Oft has he por'd thro' learning's lonely way,
Amidst thy rocks and pathless mountains gray;
Friendless, unknown, by adverse fortune driv'n,
With scarce an aid but this — the light of Heav'n!
'Twas his the depths of Language to unlock,
What every tongue in every clime hath spoke:
A key, the sacred oracles to show,
And angels' tongues to teach to men below. —
Far shone the light, and thaw'd the stony heart;
The nations saw, and, wond'ring, own'd his art.
Thus, with the Prophet, in a dry parch'd land
Th' obedient streams rush'd forth at his command:
Far flow'd the waters thro' the desert wide; —
Israel believ'd, and nations blest their guide.
Full well he knew to weigh the wond'rous whole
Of shining orbs, that on their axles roll —
To trace their circles thro' a pathless road,
Till the proud Atheist, trembling, own'd a G OD !
Alike this world its various parts to scan,
What laws best polish, and what shackle man;
Of every tie that binds the human heart —
The laws of morals, and each noble art;
To wake the numbers of the Muse's lay,
Or deep-ton'd grief, or sportive satire gay.
In Him each gentler passion did contend —
The tender Husband, and the faithful Friend.
Though lofty Science kindly on him smil'd,
Yet modest manners mark'd him for her child.
Long hast thou, Cree, swept thro' thy lakes and woods,
And with the ocean mix'd thy crystal floods;
But long thy swains shall mark the varied year,
Ere such a shepherd on thy banks appear.
And as thy rocks shall be his lasting fame
M URRAY shall live while Scotland boasts a name.
To thee, the mourner, and the Mother fair,
That's lonely left to all a Widow's care,
On his Lov'd Pledges let thy kindness flow,
Till Hope shall triumph o'er remember'd woe. —
Be thine the task to guide their helpless youth,
In all the paths of innocence and truth,
Till classic learning dawn across the mind,
And riper Reason every sense refine: —
Like Him, to claim their country's best regard,
Are the fond wishes of a simple Bard.
Mourn , Galovidia, o'er thy heathy bed!
Thy fav'rite child in the cold earth is laid!
Thy far-fam'd son, so skill'd in learned lore,
Shall teach our minds or mend our hearts no more!
Oft has he por'd thro' learning's lonely way,
Amidst thy rocks and pathless mountains gray;
Friendless, unknown, by adverse fortune driv'n,
With scarce an aid but this — the light of Heav'n!
'Twas his the depths of Language to unlock,
What every tongue in every clime hath spoke:
A key, the sacred oracles to show,
And angels' tongues to teach to men below. —
Far shone the light, and thaw'd the stony heart;
The nations saw, and, wond'ring, own'd his art.
Thus, with the Prophet, in a dry parch'd land
Th' obedient streams rush'd forth at his command:
Far flow'd the waters thro' the desert wide; —
Israel believ'd, and nations blest their guide.
Full well he knew to weigh the wond'rous whole
Of shining orbs, that on their axles roll —
To trace their circles thro' a pathless road,
Till the proud Atheist, trembling, own'd a G OD !
Alike this world its various parts to scan,
What laws best polish, and what shackle man;
Of every tie that binds the human heart —
The laws of morals, and each noble art;
To wake the numbers of the Muse's lay,
Or deep-ton'd grief, or sportive satire gay.
In Him each gentler passion did contend —
The tender Husband, and the faithful Friend.
Though lofty Science kindly on him smil'd,
Yet modest manners mark'd him for her child.
Long hast thou, Cree, swept thro' thy lakes and woods,
And with the ocean mix'd thy crystal floods;
But long thy swains shall mark the varied year,
Ere such a shepherd on thy banks appear.
And as thy rocks shall be his lasting fame
M URRAY shall live while Scotland boasts a name.
To thee, the mourner, and the Mother fair,
That's lonely left to all a Widow's care,
On his Lov'd Pledges let thy kindness flow,
Till Hope shall triumph o'er remember'd woe. —
Be thine the task to guide their helpless youth,
In all the paths of innocence and truth,
Till classic learning dawn across the mind,
And riper Reason every sense refine: —
Like Him, to claim their country's best regard,
Are the fond wishes of a simple Bard.