The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume I Part 32

[66] These verses are here first printed.

WOULD YOU BE YOUNG AGAIN?[67]

AIR--_"Ailen Aroon."_

Would you be young again?

So would not I-- One tear to memory given, Onward I 'd hie.

Life's dark flood forded o'er, All but at rest on sh.o.r.e, Say, would you plunge once more, With home so nigh?

If you might, would you now Retrace your way?

Wander through stormy wilds, Faint and astray?

Night's gloomy watches fled, Morning all beaming red, Hope's smiles around us shed, Heavenward--away.

Where, then, are those dear ones, Our joy and delight?

Dear and more dear though now Hidden from sight.

Where they rejoice to be, There is the land for me; Fly, time, fly speedily; Come, life and light.

[67] This song was composed in 1842, when the author had attained her seventy-sixth year. The four lays following, breathing the same devotional spirit, appear to have been written about the same period of the author's life. The present song is printed from the original MS.

REST IS NOT HERE.

What 's this vain world to me?

Rest is not here; False are the smiles I see, The mirth I hear.

Where is youth's joyful glee?

Where all once dear to me?

Gone, as the shadows flee-- Rest is not here.

Why did the morning shine Blythely and fair?

Why did those tints so fine Vanish in air?

Does not the vision say, Faint, lingering heart, away, Why in this desert stay-- Dark land of care!

Where souls angelic soar, Thither repair; Let this vain world no more Lull and ensnare.

That heaven I love so well Still in my heart shall dwell; All things around me tell Rest is found there.

HERE'S TO THEM THAT ARE GANE.

AIR--_"Here 's a health to ane I lo'e weel."_

Here 's to them, to them that are gane; Here 's to them, to them that are gane; Here 's to them that were here, the faithful and dear, That will never be here again--no, never.

But where are they now that are gane?

Oh, where are the faithful and true?

They 're gane to the light that fears not the night, An' their day of rejoicing shall end--no, never.

Here 's to them, to them that were here; Here 's to them, to them that were here; Here 's a tear and a sigh to the bliss that 's gane by, But 'twas ne'er like what 's coming, to last--for ever.

Oh, bright was their morning sun!

Oh, bright was their morning sun!

Yet, lang ere the gloaming, in clouds it gaed down; But the storm and the cloud are now past--for ever.

Fareweel, fareweel! parting silence is sad; Oh, how sad the last parting tear!

But that silence shall break, where no tear on the cheek Can bedim the bright vision again--no, never.

Then, speed to the wings of old Time, That waft us where pilgrims would be; To the regions of rest, to the sh.o.r.es of the blest, Where the full tide of glory shall flow--for ever.

FAREWEEL, O FAREWEEL!

GAELIC AIR.

Fareweel, O fareweel!

My heart it is sair; Fareweel, O fareweel!

I 'll see him nae mair.

Lang, lang was he mine, Lang, lang--but nae mair; I mauna repine, But my heart it is sair.

His staff 's at the wa', Toom, toom is his chair!

His bannet, an' a'!

An' I maun be here!

But oh! he 's at rest, Why sud I complain?

Gin my soul be blest, I 'll meet him again.

Oh, to meet him again, Where hearts ne'er were sair!

Oh, to meet him again, To part never mair!

THE DEAD WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LORD.[68]

Go, call for the mourners, and raise the lament, Let the tresses be torn, and the garments be rent; But weep not for him who is gone to his rest, Nor mourn for the ransom'd, nor wail for the blest.

The sun is not set, but is risen on high, Nor long in corruption his body shall lie-- Then let not the tide of thy griefs overflow, Nor the music of heaven be discord below; Rather loud be the song, and triumphant the chord, Let us joy for the dead who have died in the Lord.