of Roderick, and closes with the peaceful occupation of the country by the Victors. The SECOND PERIOD embraces the state of the Peninsula, when the conquests of the Spaniards and Portuguese in the East and West Indies had raised to the highest pitch the renown of their arms; sullied, however, by superstition and cruelty. An allusion to the inhumanities of the Inquisition terminates this picture. The LAST PART of the Poem opens with the state of Spain previous to the unparalleled treachery of BUONAPARTE; gives a sketch of the usurpation attempted upon that unsuspicious and friendly kingdom, and terminates with the arrival of the British succours. It may be further proper to mention, that the object of the Poem is less to commemorate or detail particular incidents, than to exhibit a general and impressive picture of the several periods brought upon the stage.

I am too sensible of the respect due to the Public, especially by one who has already experienced more than ordinary indulgence, to offer any apology for the inferiority of the poetry to the subject it is chiefly designed to commemorate. Yet I think it proper to mention, that while I was hastily executing a work, written for a temporary purpose, and on passing events, the task was most cruelly interrupted by the successive deaths of

M

LORD PRESIDENT BLAIR, and LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE. In those distinguished characters, I had not only to regret persons whose lives were most important to Scotland, but also whose notice and patronage honoured my entrance upon active life; and, I may add, with melancholy pride, who permitted my more advanced age to claim no common share in their friendship. Under such interruptions, the following verses, which my best and happiest efforts must have left far unworthy of their theme, have, I am myself sensible, an appearance of negligence and incoherence, which, in other circumstances, I might have been able to

remove.

EDINBURGH,

June 24, 1811.

IVES there a strain, whose sounds of mounting fire

May rise distinguish'd o'er the din

of war;

Or died it with yon Master of the Lyre, Who sung beleaguer'd Ilion's evil star? Such, WELLINGTON, might reach thee from

afar,

Wafting its descant wide o'er Ocean's [could mar, Nor shouts, nor clashing arms, its mood

range;

All as it swell'd 'twixt each loud trumpet

change,

[revenge! That clangs to Britain victory, to Portugal

II.

ES! such a strain, with all o'er-pouring

measure,

[sound, Might melodize with each tumultuous Each voice of fear or triumph, woe or pleasure, [around;

crown'd,

That rings Mondego's ravaged shores The thundering cry of hosts with conquest [moan, The female shriek, the ruin'd peasant's The shout of captives from their chains unbound,

The foil'd oppressor's deep and sullen [thrown. A Nation's choral hymn for tyranny o'er

groan,

III.

UT we, weak minstrels of a laggard day, Skill'd but to imitate an elder page, Timid and raptureless, can we repay [age? The debt thou claim'st in this exhausted

Thou givest our lyres a theme, that might

engage

Those that could send thy name o'er

sea and land,

[rage

While sea and land shall last; for Homer's

A theme; a theme for Milton's mighty

hand

[band! How much unmeet for us, a faint degenerate

IV.

E mountains stern! within whose

rugged breast

[repose; The friends of Scottish freedom found Ye torrents! whose hoarse sounds have soothed their rest, [foes;

Returning from the field of vanquish'd Say have ye lost each wild majestic close, That erst the choir of Bards or Druids flung;

What time their hymn of victory arose, And Cattraeth's glens with voice of triumph rung,

And mystic Merlin harp'd, and grey-hair'd Llywarch sung !†