Volume Iii Part 14 (1/2)
How lovely the beam on thy moorland appears, As it streams from the eye of the morn!
And how comely the garment that evening wears When the day of its glories is shorn!
Ah! strong are the ties that the patriot bind, Fair isle of the sea! to thy sh.o.r.e; The turf that he treads, by the best of their kind, By the bravest, was trodden before.
Nor is there a field--not a foot of thy soil, In dale or in mountain-land dun, Unmark'd in the annals of chivalrous toil, Ere concord its conquest had won.
The rill hath a voice from the rock as it pours, It comes from the glen on the gale, For the life-blood of martyrs hath hallow'd thy muirs, And their names are revered in the vale.
How sacred the stone that, remote on the heath, O'er the bones of the righteous was laid, Who triumph'd in death o'er the foes of their faith, When the banner of truth was display'd!
And sweet are the songs of the land of my love, And soothing their tones to the soul, Or lofty and loud, like the thunder above, Or the storm-cloud of pa.s.sion, they roll.
While summer, beyond the Atlantic's wide waste, A gaudier garb may a.s.sume, My country! thou boastest the verdure of taste, And thy glories immortally bloom.
No! I will not forsake thee, thou land of my lay!
The scorn of the stranger to brave; O'er thy lea I have revell'd in youth's sunny ray, And thy wild-flowers shall spangle my grave.
THOMAS PRINGLE.
Thomas Pringle was born on the 5th of January 1789 at Blaiklaw, in Teviotdale, a farm rented by his father, and of which his progenitors had been tenants for a succession of generations. By an accident in infancy, he suffered dislocation of one of his limbs, which rendered the use of crutches necessary for life. Attending the grammar school of Kelso for three years, he entered as a student the University of Edinburgh. From his youth he had devoted himself to extensive reading, and during his attendance at college he formed the resolution of adopting literature as a profession. In 1808 he accepted the appointment of copying-clerk in the General Register House, occupying his intervals of leisure in composition. He published, in 1811--in connexion with his ingenious friend, Robert Story, the present minister of Roseneath--a poem ent.i.tled, ”The Inst.i.tute,” which obtained a considerable share of public favour. In 1816 he became a contributor to Campbell's ”Albyn's Anthology;” and produced an excellent imitation of the poetical style of Sir Walter Scott for Hogg's ”Poetic Mirror.” Concurring with Hogg in a proposal to establish a new monthly periodical, in order to supersede the _Scots' Magazine_, which had much sunk in the literary scale, he united with him in submitting the scheme to Mr Blackwood, who was then becoming known as an enterprising publisher. By Mr Blackwood the proposal was well received; a periodical was originated under the t.i.tle of the _Edinburgh Monthly Magazine_, and Pringle relinquished his post in the Register House to undertake the editors.h.i.+p. In April 1817 the first number of the magazine appeared, adorned with contributions from Wilson, Lockhart, the Shepherd, and others of literary reputation. An interesting article on ”Gypsies” was Pringle's own contribution, the materials being kindly supplied to him by Sir Walter Scott. The occurrence of serious differences between the editor and publisher, however, soon menaced the continuance of a periodical which had commenced so prosperously; the result was, the withdrawal of Pringle from the concern, and an announcement in the September number that the magazine was discontinued. The discontinuance was merely nominal: a new series, under the t.i.tle of _Blackwood's Magazine_, appeared in October, under the literary superintendence of Wilson; while, in the August preceding, Pringle had originated, under the publis.h.i.+ng auspices of Mr Constable, _The Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany_, as a new series of the _Scots' Magazine_. In the first number of Mr Blackwood's new series appeared the celebrated ”Chaldee MS.,” a humorous pasquinade, chiefly directed against Pringle and his literary friend Cleghorn, and which, on account of its evident personalities, was afterwards cancelled.
Besides conducting Constable's magazine, Pringle undertook the editors.h.i.+p of _The Star_, a bi-weekly newspaper; but he was led soon to renounce both these literary appointments. He now published the ”Autumnal Excursion, and other Poems;” but finding, in spite of every effort, that he was unable to support himself by literature, he resumed, early in 1819, his humble situation in the Register House.
When his literary affairs were prosperous, Pringle had entered into the married state, but his present emoluments were wholly unequal to the comfortable maintenance of his family. He formed the resolution of emigrating to South Africa, then a favourite colony, and a number of his wife's relatives and his own consented to accompany him. In February 1820 he embarked for the Cape, along with his father and other relatives, in all numbering twenty-four persons. The emigrants landed on the 5th of June, and forthwith took possession of the territory a.s.signed them by the home government, extending to 20,000 acres, situate in the upper part of the valley of Baaviars river, a tributary of the Great Fish river. In this place, which the colonists designated Glen-lynden, Pringle remained about two years, till his friends were comfortably settled. He thereafter proceeded to Cape Town, in quest of literary employment. He was appointed keeper of the Government library, with a salary of 75, and soon after found himself at the head of a flouris.h.i.+ng educational establishment. He now established a periodical, which he designated the _South African Commercial Advertiser_, and became editor of a weekly newspaper, originated by an enterprising printer. But misfortune continued to attend his literary adventures: in consequence of certain interferences of the local government, he was compelled to abandon both his periodical and newspaper, while the opposition of the administrative officials led to his seminary being deserted. Leaving the colony for Britain, he arrived in London in July 1826; and failing to obtain from the home government a reparation of his losses in the colony, he was necessitated anew to seek a precarious subsistence from literature. An article which he had written on slavery, in the _New Monthly Magazine_, led to his appointment as secretary to the Anti-slavery Society. This situation, so admirably suited to his talents and predilections, he continued to hold till the office became unnecessary, by the legislative abolition of slavery on the 27th of June 1834. He now became desirous of returning to the Cape, but was meanwhile seized with a pulmonary affection, which proved fatal on the 5th December 1834, in his forty-sixth year. His remains were interred in Bunhill-field Cemetery, where a tombstone, with an inscription by his poetical friend William Kennedy, has been erected to his memory.
As a poet, Pringle is chiefly remarkable for elegance of versification, perspicuity of sentiment, and deep and generous feeling. A thorough patriot, some of his best songs on subjects connected with Scottish scenery were written on the plains of Africa. Beneficent in disposition, and conciliatory in private intercourse, he was especially uncompromising in the maintenance of his political opinions; and to this peculiarity may be traceable some of his earlier misfortunes. In person he was under the middle height; his countenance was open and benignant, with a well developed forehead. He was much influenced by sincere religious convictions. His poetical works, with a memoir by Mr Leitch Ritchie, have been published by Mr Moxon for the benefit of his widow.
FAREWELL TO BONNIE TEVIOTDALE.
Our native land--our native vale-- A long, a last adieu; Farewell to bonnie Teviotdale, And Cheviot's mountains blue!
Farewell, ye hills of glorious deeds, Ye streams renown'd in song; Farewell, ye braes and blossom'd meads, Our hearts have loved so long!
Farewell, the blithsome broomy knowes, Where thyme and harebells grow; Farewell, the h.o.a.ry, haunted howes, O'erhung with birk and sloe!
The mossy cave and mouldering tower, That skirt our native dells; The martyr's grave and lover's bower, We bid a sad farewell!
Home of our love--our fathers' home-- Land of the brave and free-- The sail is flapping on the foam That bears us far from thee!
We seek a wild and distant sh.o.r.e, Beyond the western main; We leave thee to return no more, Nor view thy cliffs again!
Our native land--our native vale-- A long, a last adieu!
Farewell to bonnie Teviotdale, And Scotland's mountains blue!