Better then all measures 



Of delightful sound, 

 Better than all treasures 

 That in books are found, 

 Thy skill to poet were, thou scorner of the ground. 



Teach me half the gladness 



That thy brain must know. 

 Such harmonious madness 



From my lips should flow ; 

 The world should listen then, as I am listening now. 



James Hogg, the Ettrick shepherd, who had listened to the 

 bird with delight on the Scottish hills, thus sings of it : — 



Bird of the wilderness. 



Blithesome and cumberless, 

 Sweet is thy matin o'er moorland and lea ! 



Emblem of happiness. 



Blest is thy dwelling-place — 

 Oh, to abide in the desert with thee ! 



Wild is thy lay, and loud ; 



Far in the downy cloud 

 Love gives it energy, love gave it birth. 



Where on thy dewy wing, 



Where art thou journeying ? 

 Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth. 



O'er fell and fountain sheen. 



O'er moor and mountain green, 

 O'er the red streamer that heralds the day ; 



Over the cloudlet dim, 



Over the rainbow's rim. 

 Musical cherub, soar, singing away ! 



Then when the gloaming comes. 

 Low in the heather blooms. 

 Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be ! 

 Emblem of happiness. 

 Blest is thy dwelling-place — 

 Oh, to abide in the desert with thee ! 



