FOR THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE PITT CLUB OF SCOTLAND. DREAD was the time, and more dreadful the omen, When the brave on Marengo lay slaughtered in vain, And, beholding broad Europe bowed down by her foemen, PITT closed in his anguish the map of her reign! Not the fate of broad Europe could bend his brave spirit To take for his country the safety of shame; O then in her triumph remember his merit, Round the husbandman's head, while he traces the furrow, The mists of the winter may mingle with rain, He may plough it with labour, and sow it in sorrow, And sigh while he fears he has sowed it in vain; He may die ere his children shall reap in their glad ness, But the blithe harvest-home shall remember his claim; And their jubilee-shout shall be softened with sad ness, While they hallow the goblet that flows to his name. Though anxious and timeless his life was expended, In toils for our country preserved by his care, Though he died ere one ray o'er the nations ascended, To light the long darkness of doubt and despair; The storms he endured in our Britain's December, The perils his wisdom foresaw and o'ercame, In her glory's rich harvest shall Britain remember, And hallow the goblet that flows to his name. Nor forget His gray head, who, all dark in affliction, Though a tear stain the goblet that flows to his name. Yet again fill the wine-cup, and change the sad mea sure, The rites of our grief and our gratitude paid, To our Prince, to our Heroes, devote the bright treasure, The wisdom that planned, and the zeal that obeyed! Fill WELLINGTON's cup till it beam like his glory, Forget not our own brave DALHOUSIE and GRÆME; A thousand years hence hearts shall bound at their story, And hallow the goblet that flows to their fame. SONG, ON THE LIFTING OF THE BANNER OF THE HOUSE OF BUCCLEUCH, AT A GREAT FOOT-BALL MATCH ON CARTERHAUGH. FROM the brown crest of Newark its summons extending, Our signal is waving in smoke and in flame; And each forester blithe from his mountain descend ing, Bounds light o'er the heather to join in the game. CHORUS. Then up with the Banner, let forest winds fan her, When the Southern invader spread waste and disorder, At the glance of her crescents he paused and withdrew, For around them were marshalled the pride of the Border, The Flowers of the Forest, the Bands of Buc CLEUCH. Then up with the Banner, &c. A stripling's weak hand to our revel has borne her, No mail-glove has grasp'd her, no spearman sur round; But ere a bold foeman should scathe or should scorn her, A thousand true hearts would be cold on the ground. Then up with the Banner, &c. We forget each contention of civil dissention, And ELLIOT and PRINGLE in pastime shall mingle, Then strip, lads, and to it, though sharp be the weather, And if, by mischance, you should happen to fall, There are worse things in life than a tumble on heather, And life is itself but a game at foot-ball. Then up with the Banner, &c. |