THE RIVERS OF SCOTLAND.

AN ODE.

Set to Music by Mr Collet.

O'ER Scotia's parched land the Naiads flew, From tow'ring hills explor'd her shelter'd vales, Caus'd Forth in wild meanders please the view, And lift her waters to the zephyr's gales.

Where the glad swain surveys his fertile fields, And reaps the plenty which his harvest yields.

Here did these lovely nymphs unseen,
Oft wander'd by the river's side,

And oft unbind their tresses green,
To bathe them in the fluid tide.

Then to the shady grottos would retire,
And sweetly echo to the warbling choir;

THE RIVERS OF SCOTLAND.

Or to the rushing waters tune their shells,
To call up echo from the woods,

Or from the rocks or chrystal floods,
Or from surrounding banks, or hills, or dales.

CHORUS.

Or to the rushing waters tune their shells,
To call up echo from the woods,

Or from the rocks or chrystal floods,

Or from surrounding banks, or hills, or dales.

When the cool fountains first their springs forsook,
Murmuring smoothly to the azure main,

Exulting Neptune then his trident shook,
And wav'd his waters gently to the plain.

The friendly Tritons on his chariot borne,
With cheeks dilated blew the hollow-sounding horn.

THE RIVERS OF SCOTLAND.

Now Lothian and Fifan shores,
Resounding to the Mermaid's song,

Gladly emit their limpid stores,

And bid them smoothly sail along...

To Neptune's empire, and with him to roll Round the revolving sphere from pole to pole;

To guard Britannia from envious foes,
To view her angry vengeance hurl'd

In awful thunder round the world.
And trembling nations bending to her blows.

CHORUS.

To guard Britannia from envious foes,
To view her angry vengeance hurl'd,

In awful thunder round the world,

And trembling nations bending to her blows..

THE RIVERS OF SCOTLAND.

High tow'ring on the zephyr's breezy wing,
Swift fly the Naiads from Fortha's shores,
And to the southern airy mountains bring
Their sweet enchantment and their magic pow'rs.

Each nymph her favourite willow takes,
The earth with fev'rous tremor shakes,

The stagnant lakes obey their call,

Streams o'er the grassy pastures fall..

Tweed spreads her waters to the lucid
Upon the dimpled surf the sun-beams play:

ray,

On her green banks the tuneful shepherd lies,

Charm'd with the music of his reed,

Amidst the wavings of the Tweed:

From sky-reflecting streams the river nymphs

arise.