Volume 8 — 1818
Reading edition
“THE SCOTTISH BROOM ON BIRD-NEST BRAE”[392]
The Scottish Broom on Bird-nest brae[393] Twelve tedious years ago, When many plants strange blossoms bore That puzzled high and low, A not unnatural longing felt, 5 What longing would ye know? Why, friend, to deck her supple twigs With yellow in full blow. To Lowther Castle she addressed A prayer both bold and sly, 10 (For all the Brooms on Bird-nest brae Can talk and speechify) That flattering breezes blowing thence Their succour would supply, Then she would instantly put forth 15 A flag of yellow dye. But from the Castle turret blew A chill forbidding blast, Which the poor Broom no sooner felt Than she shrank up so fast; 20 Her wished-for yellow she forswore, And since that time has cast Fond looks on colours three or four And put forth Blue at last. And now, my lads, the Election comes 25 In June’s sunshining hours, When every field and bank and brae Is clad with yellow flowers. While faction Blue from shops and booths Tricks out her blustering powers, 30 Lo! smiling Nature’s lavish hand Has furnished wreaths for ours.
PLACARD FOR A POLL BEARING AN OLD SHIRT
Wordsworth was deeply interested in the successive parliamentary elections for Westmoreland (see his “Addresses to the Freeholders of Westmorland, 1818,” in the Prose Works.) He particularly disliked Lord Brougham’s candidature. The following squib is in MS. at Lowther Castle. He wrote on the MS.—“For a version of part of B.’s famous London Tower Speech see opposite page.”—Ed.
If money’s slack, The shirt on my back Shall off, and go to the hammer: Though I sell shirt and skin By Jove I’ll be in, And raise up a radical clamor!
“CRITICS, RIGHT HONOURABLE BARD, DECREE”
I have found this in a catalogue of Autograph Letters, and have no knowledge of its date, or of the Bard referred to. Solomon Gesner wrote a poem on The Death of Abel, which was translated into English. See footnote to The Prelude, book vii. l. 564.—Ed.
“Critics, right honourable Bard, decree Laurels to some, a night-shade wreath to thee, Whose muse a sure though late revenge hath ta’en Of harmless Abel’s death, by murdering Cain.”
On Cain, a Mystery, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott:—
“A German Haggis from receipt Of him who cooked the death of Abel, And sent ‘warm-reeking, rich and sweet,’ From Venice to Sir Walter’s table.”