“For as the sapling’s sturdy stalk,
      Whose double twist is crossly strain’d,
    Such is thy fortune—­sure to baulk
      At this extreme what there was gain’d.

    “When Heaven its gracious manna hail’d,
      ’Twas vain who hoarded its supply,
    Not all his miser care avail’d
      His neighbour’s portion to outvie.

    “So, blended all that nature owns,
      So, warp’d all hopes that mortals bless—­
    With boundless wealth, the sufferer’s groans;
      With courtly luxury, distress.

    “Lift up the balance—­heap with gold,
      Its other shell vile dust shall fill;
    And were a kingdom’s ransom told,
      The scales would want adjustment still.

    “Life has its competence—­nor deem
      That better than enough were more;
    Sure it were phantasy to dream
      With burdens to assuage thy sore.

    “It is the fancy’s whirling strife
      That breeds thy pain—­to-day it craves,
    To-morrow spurns—­suffices life
      When passion asks what passion braves?

    “Should appetite her wish achieve,
      To herd with brutes her joy would bound;
    Pleased other paradise to leave,
      Content to pasture on the ground.

    “But pride rebels, nor towers alone
      Beyond that confine’s lowly sphere—­
    Seems as from the Eternal Throne
      It aim’d the sceptre’s self to tear.

    “’Tis thus we trifle, thus we dare;
      But, seek we to our bliss the way,
    Let us to Heaven our path refer,
      Believe, and worship, and obey.

    “That choice is all—­to range beyond
      Nor must, nor needs; provision, grace,
    In these He gives, who sits enthroned,
      Salvation, competence, and peace.”

    The instructive vision pass’d away,
      But not its wisdom’s dreamless lore;
    No more in shadow-tracks I stray,
      And fondle shadow-shapes no more.

[107] Orig.—­The venomous red spider.

DUNCAN MACINTYRE.

Duncan Macintyre (Donacha Ban) is considered by his countrymen the most extraordinary genius that the Highlands in modern times have produced.  Without having learned a letter of any alphabet, he was enabled to pour forth melodies that charmed every ear to which they were intelligible.  And he is understood to have had the published specimens of his poetry committed to writing by no mean judge of their merit,—­the late Dr Stewart of Luss,—­who, when a young man, became acquainted with this extraordinary person, in consequence of his being employed as a kind of under-keeper in a forest adjoining to the parish of which the Doctor’s father was minister.

Macintyre was born in Druimliart of Glenorchy on the 20th of March 1724, and died in October 1812.  He was chiefly employed in the capacity of keeper in several of the Earl of Breadalbane’s forests.  He carried a musket, however, in his lordship’s fencibles; which led him to take part, much against his inclination, in the Whig ranks at the battle of Falkirk.  Later in life he transferred his musket to the Edinburgh City Guard.