In Sight Of Wallace'S Tower

--How Wallace fought for Scotland, left the name Of Wallace to be found, like a wild flower, All over his dear Country; left the deeds Of Wallace, like a family of ghosts, To people the steep rocks and river banks, Her natural sanctuaries, with a local soul Of independence and stern liberty. _MS._[H]

Composed 1814.--Published 1820

[I had seen this celebrated Waterfall twice before; but the feelings to which it had given birth were not expressed till they recurred in presence of the object on this occasion.--I.F.]

Lord of the vale! astounding Flood; The dullest leaf in this thick wood Quakes--conscious of thy power; The caves reply with hollow moan; And vibrates, to its central stone, Yon time-cemented Tower![I]

And yet how fair the rural scene! For thou, O Clyde, hast ever been Beneficent as strong; Pleased in refreshing dews to steep The little trembling flowers that peep Thy shelving rocks among.

Hence all who love their country, love To look on thee--delight to rove Where they thy voice can hear; And, to the patriot-warrior's Shade, Lord of the vale! to Heroes laid In dust, that voice is dear!

Along thy banks, at dead of night Sweeps visibly the Wallace Wight; Or stands, in warlike vest, Aloft, beneath the moon's pale beam, A Champion worthy of the stream, Yon grey tower's living crest!

But clouds and envious darkness hide A Form not doubtfully descried:-- Their transient mission o'er, O say to what blind region flee These Shapes of awful phantasy? To what untrodden shore?

Less than divine command they spurn; But this we from the mountains learn, And this the valleys show; That never will they deign to hold Communion where the heart is cold To human weal and woe.

The man of abject soul in vain Shall walk the Marathonian plain; Or thrid the shadowy gloom, That still invests the guardian Pass, Where stood, sublime, Leonidas Devoted to the tomb.[J]

And let no Slave his head incline, Or kneel, before the votive shrine By Uri's lake, where Tell Leapt, from his storm-vext boat, to land,[K] Heaven's Instrument, for by his hand That day the Tyrant fell.

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