NOTE TO THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.

I COULD not give my reader a better description of the castle of Rossyth, than by quoting the words of my friend Robert Chambers, from his admirable" Picture of Scotland"-Rossyth Castle, says he, is by far the most striking object on this part of the coast. It is a huge square tower, situated close by the sea, the waves of which encompass it at high water. There is something impressive, and even august, in the appearance of this ancient fortalice; deserted as it is, in these its days of ruin and decay, by every thing but the wild sea-bird and the feeding sheep. It was, in its days of pride, the seat of that branch of the family of Stuart from which Oliver Cromwell was descended-the posterity, namely, of Sir James Stuart, uncle to King Robert II. There is a tradition that, as the Protector's grandmother was a daughter of the Laird of Rossyth, and had been born in the castle, he visited it when encamped in the neighbourhood. It is also asserted that Queen Mary at one time resided in the castle; which is not improbable, since her arms and initials are still discernible over the gate giving entry to the court-yard. On a stone in the south side of the tower, near the ground, is the following quaint inscription :

"In deu tyme draw yis cord ye bel to clink,

Quhais mery voic varnis to meat and drink."

The cord of the dinner-bell must have hung at this place; but it seems to have been a strange act of supererogation in the architect, thus to inform the servants that it was necessary to keep this

particular part of their duty in due remembrance: Had it been a bell to make them rise in the morning, an inscription might have been more indispensable. The couplet ought certainly to be accepted as a specimen of the poetry of the fourteenth century. From this part of the coast of Fife to the ancient and most interesting town of Dunfermline, the distance is about three miles,

ΤΟ

MY FRIEND CAPTAIN BARTLEMAN,

OF THE BENGAL ARMY,

AT PARTING.

When the bright dreams of childhood's golden day, All flowers and sunshine, passed, like light away; When sorrrow first came down to dim

my

soul

As clouds o'er morn's unsullied forehead roll
All the sweet visions of my earlier years
Dissolved, like summer rainbows, in their tears:
My hopes were duped, my expectations cross'd,
My feelings wounded, and my pleasures lost-
To find alas! the cold wide world was not
What I had pictured in my boyish thought:
To find that man – my brother man -ah me!
Was not the being, which mine infancy

Had deemed all goodness, wisdom, virtue, truthAh! that such dreams should perish with our youth! But they are gone—yes, they are gone for ever! Like the blue waters of the mountain river,

Rolling, sublime, into the boundless sea;
Those days have passed into eternity!
The world, to me, is not what it hath been;
No joys to come can equal those I've seen:
No mortal creature is so good -so mild
So just- as I had fancied when a child:

I view'd earth then through such a soul of light, That all seemed fair, and beautiful, and bright: But now, in truth, these fancied charms are flown,— I stand astonished, pensive, and alone!

Yet there are beings in this world of woe
Brothers who share our sympathies below-
Who from the paths of virtue ne'er depart;
Whose friendship is th' effusion of the heart:
Good without effort -humble, though not mean
Just, without harshness — manly, though serene-
Full of affection, pitying others' woes

Faithful to friends, and generous to foes

Whom as my kind superior I could tend;

Love as a brother

trust in as a friend.

Yes, there are such, and such, though rarely found, I've met - I've loved

Yes,

by virtuous friendship

are such and though youth's dreams

are gone

Sincerely told, the minstrel's friend is one!

Thou know'st thy friendship I have valued ever; Much more so now, when just about to sever