The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung.
O Caledonia! stern and wild,
Meet nurse for a poetic child!
Land of brown heath and shaggy wood,
Land of the mountain and the flood,
Land of my sires! what mortal hand
Can e’er untie the filial band
That knits me to thy rugged strand!
‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’ (1805) canto 6, st. 1
O! many a shaft, at random sent,
Finds mark the archer little meant!
And many a word, at random spoken,
May soothe or wound a heart that’s broken.
‘The Lord of the Isles’ (1813) canto 5, st. 18
Had’st thou but lived, though stripped of power,
A watchman on the lonely tower.
‘Marmion’ (1808) introduction to canto 1, st. 8
Now is the stately column broke,
The beacon-light is quenched in smoke,
The trumpet’s silver sound is still,
The warder silent on the hill!
‘Marmion’ (1808) introduction to canto 1, st. 8
And come he slow, or come he fast,
It is but Death who comes at last.
‘Marmion’ (1808) canto 2, st. 30
O, young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best.
‘Marmion’ (1808) canto 5, st. 12 (‘Lochinvar’ st. 1)
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.
‘Marmion’ (1808) canto 5, st. 12 (‘Lochinvar’ st. 1)
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.
‘Marmion’ (1808) canto 5, st. 12 (‘Lochinvar’ st. 2)
O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?
‘Marmion’ (1808) canto 5, st. 12 (‘Lochinvar’ st. 3)
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.