Chapter I

Long yearnings had my soul to gaze upon
Fair Italy with atmosphere of fire;
On tawny Spain; on th’ immemorial land
Where Time has dallied with the Parthenon
In beautiful affection and desire.
But when last even, effluently bland,
I saw sweet Luggie wind her amber waters
Thro’ lawns of dew and glens of glimmering green,
And saw the comeliness of Scotland’s daughters,
Their speaking eyes and modest mountain mien,—
I blest the Godhead over all presiding,
Who placed me here, removed from human strife,
Where Luggie, in her clear unwearied gliding,
Is but the image of my inner life.