No More Learning

"Since, then, the rule of right is plain, [10]
And longest life is but a day;
To have my ends, maintain my rights, 55
I'll take the shortest way. "

And thus among these rocks he lived,
Through summer heat and winter snow: [11]
The Eagle, he was lord above,
And Rob was lord below. 60

So was it--_would_, at least, have been
But through untowardness of fate;
For Polity was then too strong--
He came an age too late;

Or shall we say an age too soon? 65
For, were the bold Man living _now_,
How might he flourish in his pride,
With buds on every bough!

Then rents and factors, rights of chase,
Sheriffs, and lairds and their domains, [12] 70
Would all have seemed but paltry things,
Not worth a moment's pains.

Rob Roy had never lingered here,
To these few meagre Vales confined;
But thought how wide the world, the times 75
How fairly to his mind!

And to his Sword he would have said,
"Do Thou my sovereign will enact
From land to land through half the earth!
Judge thou of law and fact! 80

"'Tis fit that we should do our part,
Becoming, that mankind should learn
That we are not to be surpassed
In fatherly concern.

"Of old things all are over old, 85
Of good things none are good enough:--
We'll show that we can help to frame
A world of other stuff.

"I, too, will have my kings that take
From me the sign of life and death: 90
Kingdoms shall shift about, like clouds,
Obedient to my breath. "

And, if the word had been fulfilled,
As _might_ have been, then, thought of joy!
France would have had her present Boast, 95
And we our own [13] Rob Roy!

Oh! say not so; compare them not;
I would not wrong thee, Champion brave!
Would wrong thee nowhere; least of all
Here standing by thy grave. 100

For Thou, although with some wild thoughts
Wild Chieftain of a savage Clan!
Hadst this to boast of; thou didst love
The _liberty_ of man.

And, had it been thy lot to live 105
With us who now behold the light,
Thou would'st have nobly stirred thyself,
And battled for the Right.

For thou wert still [14] the poor man's stay,
The poor man's heart, the poor man's hand; 110
And all the oppressed, who wanted strength,
Had thine at their command. [15]

Bear witness many a pensive sigh
Of thoughtful Herdsman when he strays
Alone upon Loch Veol's heights, 115
And by Loch Lomond's braes!

And, far and near, through vale and hill,
Are faces that attest the same;
The proud heart flashing through the eyes, [16]
At sound of ROB ROY'S name. 120


* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1807.

And Scotland boasts of one as good,
She has her own Rob Roy. 1803. D. W. ]


[Variant 2:

1807.

. . .