ARRANGEMENT

OF THE

FIFTH BOOK.

I. Mid-Summer-Effects of extreme drought on the face of nature-The Female Florist, and Mountain-Botanist———— Medicinal herbs and vegetable dies, indigenous to the Grampians-Shower, and refreshing appearance of the surrounding country-Labour renewed-Turnip-sowing. II. JULY-Sheep-shearing-Song, in which are introduced some of the historical incidents of the Pastoral Ages. III. AUGUST-Weaning of the Lambs-Characteristic view of the Grampians, Seas, and Western Islands, as seen from the top of BENEVIS, the pinnacle of GREAT BRITAIN. IV. SEPTEMBER-Harvest-Ludicrous description of reaping-Great care required in securing the crop from the heavy rains of the western coast-To be particularly mindful of saving sufficient winter-pasture and fodder for the livestock-The season of fruit in the straths and glens, and of berries upon the mountains, the latter being the principal food

of grouse and other heath-game-The breeding-stock separated from the sheep draughted for sale-Management during disease-Rutting time-Smearing of the flock. V. OCTOBER-Manifest changes, and approach of Winter -The heaths assume their russet aspect, the woods, their variegated hues-The feathered tribes assemble, while some migrate to warmer regions. VI. NOVEMBER-Its sullen gloom rests on the mountains-Winter-Care of the flock during the tremendous rage of a storm-The weather is calm and serene, and the cattle and Sheep safely housed or in sheltered place-A slight outline of the manners, mode of living, and superstition of the Gaël-witk which this division of the subject concludes.

THE

GRAMPIANS DESOLATE

BOOK FIFTH.

HIGH o'er the peaks of ALBION's northern bound,
Supreme in might the sun his strength around
Pours in a living stream of glorious rays,
While nature seems to languish in the blaze.
Mid-Summer's sultry glow pervades the scene,
And drought extreme absorbs the vivid green;
The powers of vegetation fast decay-

The pastures fail, and flowerets fade away.

See beauteous NOINA wanders o'er yon plain, (1) In quest of sweets of loveliest bloom in vain ;

No daisy meek of varigated hue

Arrests her mildly-beaming eyes of blue;

Nor purple violet, pansy, primrose pale,
Nor ruby rose-bud, lily of the vale,
Appear to gem the mead, or sun-burnt lawn

Impearl'd with dew no more at eve or early dawn.

Lo, where young NIEL, the first of graceful men, Belov'd of Noina, winds adown the glen,

The keen herb-searcher of the teemful ground,
The skilful LEIGH of all the country round; (2)
Oft through the steepy wood, the lonely wild,
Where fragments huge of rock seem strangely piled,
(The hoary Cromleac, or the heroe's tomb), (3)
From morn till eve the youth delights to roam;
Along the winding stream, or lake's green shore,
With eager eye to cull the healing store ;-
Thence now returning Noina meets his gaze,
To whom alone he breathes his tender lays;
See how they rush with rapturous embrace,
While blushes sweet suffuse her lovely face;
To shun the solar beam and sultry heat,
They gain the covert of a cool retreat,
Where tinkling rills and runnels ripple by,
Where weeping birches to the breezes sigh,

Where ring-doves coo, and blackbirds swell their note,
And lesser songsters strain the tuneful throat;
Charm'd by the throstle's sweetly warbled close,
Where woodbines climb, our rural pair repose.
Niel from his scrip a liberal handful flings
On Noina's lap, of Cor-meilles' knobby strings; (4)
The luscious gift the fair one takes, meanwhile
Repays the donor with a witching smile;

And kind discourse with mingling kisses sweet,
Employ the moments of their soft retreat.
His herbs of healing virtue Niel displays,

While Noina pleased, enquires with curious gaze,
How each specific counteracts disease,
Promotes recovery, or procures wish'd ease:
Thus, wild dwarf-myrtle of the moorish waste,
(Of odour fragrant, but of acrid taste),
Its virtue vermifuge is highly prized,
Nor bitter seems when skilfully disguised:
Th' astringent tormentil that spreads the heath,
The caustic spearwort of the lake beneath,
The kindly groundsel, meet for healing sores,
The precious eye-bright that lost sight restores,
The styptic milfoil, drastic clubmoss wild,
And lovage warm, carminature, yet mild,
The fragrant rosewort, head-ach's sovereign cure,
The fox-glove deadly, yet, specific sure
In bloated dropsies-sometimes in decline;
The gentian bitter, yet stomachic fine,

The nutrient orchis of the waste and wood,

And mountain burdock, most salubrious food. (5)

For, should the field, or fruitful fold e'er fail, And hideous famine o'er these hills prevail, Let not despondency the soul appal,

For dearth devours not nature's bounties all.