A POEM.
85
Their bright approach impurity refines;
At every touch the linen brighter shines,
Whether they bathe it in the crystal wave,
Or from the stream the whitening surges lave, 90
Or from the painted cann the fountain pour,
Softly descending in a shining shower;
Till, as it lies, its fair transparent hue
Shows like a lily dipt in morning dew.
As shines the moon among the lesser fires,
Unrivalled Glasgow lifts her stately spires:
For Commerce, glorious with her golden crown,
Has marked fair Glasgow for her favourite town:
She makes her stately edifices thrive,
And merchants rich, in princely splendor live; 100
Extends her spacious streets on every side,
And bids her poor in palaces reside.
Where royal Nassau rides aloft, and round
His daring brows a wreath of laurels bound,
As in a common centre, meet combined
Four spacious streets, which stretch to every wind:
The distant buildings vanish from the view,
Nor can the weary eye their length pursue.
Lofty and large the stately temples rise,
Fit for His worship who spread out the skies. 110
At every touch the linen brighter shines,
Whether they bathe it in the crystal wave,
Or from the stream the whitening surges lave, 90
Or from the painted cann the fountain pour,
Softly descending in a shining shower;
Till, as it lies, its fair transparent hue
Shows like a lily dipt in morning dew.
As shines the moon among the lesser fires,
Unrivalled Glasgow lifts her stately spires:
For Commerce, glorious with her golden crown,
Has marked fair Glasgow for her favourite town:
She makes her stately edifices thrive,
And merchants rich, in princely splendor live; 100
Extends her spacious streets on every side,
And bids her poor in palaces reside.
Where royal Nassau rides aloft, and round
His daring brows a wreath of laurels bound,
As in a common centre, meet combined
Four spacious streets, which stretch to every wind:
The distant buildings vanish from the view,
Nor can the weary eye their length pursue.
Lofty and large the stately temples rise,
Fit for His worship who spread out the skies. 110
