To Ben Lomond. James Cochrane. Ben Lomond. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Scotland: Vols. VI-VIII

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Ben Lomond

To Ben Lomond

James Cochrane


AS one long used by midnight lamp to pore
O’er hieroglyphic learning, and to stand
Spelling old marbles in this modern land,
To find the secret of Egyptian lore,
Betakes himself full-fraught to Nilus’ shore,	5
And gazes, rapt, on tombs and temples vast,
To read the records of the mighty past,
But soon despairs and gives his purpose o’er;
Even so on thy magnificence years long
By day, by night, with rapture have I gazed,	10
O sovran Ben! that my soul might be raised,
And all my feelings kindled into song:
But vain the wish, when I attempt the theme,
My thoughts escape in air, and I but dream.