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MARMION.

Introduction to Canto Third.

TO

WILLIAM ERSKINE, Esq.

Ashestiel, Ettricke Forest.

LIKE April morning clouds, that pass,
With varying shadow, o'er the grass,
And imitate, on field and furrow,
Life's chequered scene of joy and sorrow;
Like streamlet of the mountain north,
Now in a torrent racing forth,

Now winding slow its silver train,

And almost slumbering on the plain ;
Like breezes of the autumn day,

Whose voice inconstant dies away,

And ever swells again as fast,
When the ear deems its murmur past;
Thus various my romantic theme

Flits, winds, or sinks, a morning dream.
Yet pleased, our eye pursues the trace

Of Light and Shade's inconstant race ;
Pleased, views the rivulet afar,

Weaving its maze irregular;

And pleased, we listen as the breeze
Heaves its wild sigh through Autumn trees.
Then wild as cloud, or stream, or gale,
Flow on, flow unconfined, my tale.

Need I to thee, dear Erskine, tell,

I love the license all too well,

In sound now lowly, and now strong,
To raise the desultory song.

Oft, when mid such capricious chime,
Some transient fit of loftier rhime,

To thy kind judgment seemed excuse
For many an error of the muse;

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