I dread thee, Fate, relentless and severe,
With all a poet’s, husband’s, father’s fear!
Already one strong-hold of hope is lost,
Glencairn, the truly noble, lies in dust—
Fled, like the sun eclips’d as noon appears,
And left us darkling in a world of tears.
Oh! hear my ardent, grateful, selfish pray’r!
Fintry, my other stay, long bless and spare!
Thro’ a long life his hopes and wishes crown,
And bright in cloudless skies his sun go down!