Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

334 MINSTRELSY OF
To
THE EIGHT HONOURABLE
LADY CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL,
WITH
THE MERMAID.
To brighter charms depart, my simple lay,
Than graced of old the maid of Colonsay,
When her fond lover, lessening from her view.
With eyes reverted, o'er the surge withdrew ;
But happier still, should lovely Campbell sing
Thy plaintive numbers to the trembling string.
The mermaid's melting strains would yield to thee.
Though pour'd diffusive o'er the silver sea.
Go boldly forth—but ah ! the listening throng,
Rapt by the syren, would forget the song !
Lo ! while they pause, nor dare to gaze around.
Afraid to break the soft enchanting sound.
While swells to sympathy each fluttering heai't,
'Tis not the poet's, but the syren's art.