26 Bird Day Book 



THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE 



ADMIRING Nature in her mildest grace, 

 These northern scenes with weary feet I trace; 

 O'er many a winding dale and painful steep, 

 Th' abodes of coveyed grouse and timid sheep, 

 My savage journeyed, curious I pursue, 

 Till famed Breadalbane opens to my view, 

 The meeting cliffs each deep-sunk glen divides, 

 The woods, wild scattered, clothe their ample sides. 

 Th' outstretching lake, embosomed 'mong the hills, 

 The eye with wonder and amazement fills ; 

 The Tay meandering sweet in infant pride, 

 The palace rising on his verdant side ; 

 The lawns wood- fringed in Nature's native taste; 

 The hillocks dropped in Nature's careless haste; 

 The arches striding o'er the new-born stream; 

 The village glittering in the noontide beam. 



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Poetic ardors in my bosom swell, 



Lone wandering by the hermit's mossy cell; 



The sweeping theatre of hanging woods, 



Th' incessant roar of headlong tumbling floods. 



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Here Poesy might wake her heaven-taught lyre, 



And look through Nature with creative fire; 



Here, to the wrongs of fate half reconciled, 



Misfortune's lightened steps might wander wild; 



And Disappointment in these lonely bounds 



Find balm to soothe her bitter, rankling wounds. 



Here heart-struck Grief might heavenward stretch her scan, 



And injured Worth forget and pardon man. 



— Burns. 



