Affectionately Dedicated.
_INTRODUCTORY NOTE._
This new Edition of the Works of David Gray, containing, it is
believed, all the maturely finished poems of the author, is a double
memorial. It commemorates “the thin-spun life” of a man of true
genius and rare promise, and the highly cultured judgment and tender
sympathies of a critic who has passed away in the vigorous fulness of
his years.
A specimen page of “The Luggie,” forwarded with an appreciative letter
from a friend, reached the author on the day before his death. He
received it as “good news”—the fragmentary realization of his ambitious
dreams—and, in the hope that his name might not be wholly forgotten,
said he could now enter “without tears” into his rest.
Within a week before his removal from amongst us, Mr. Glassford Bell
was engaged in correcting the proofs of the present edition. He had
selected from a mass of MSS. and other material what new pieces he
thought worthy of insertion in this enlarged edition—he had rearranged
the whole and finally revised the greater part of the volume, which it
was his intention to preface with a Memoir and Criticism. He looked
forward to accomplishing this labour of love in a period of retirement
from more active work which he had proposed to pass in Italy.
It has been thought inadvisable to commit to other hands the
unexpectedly interrupted task. For a statement of the few and
simple vicissitudes of the Poet’s career, as well as a brief but
discriminating estimate of his rank in our literature, the reader is
referred to the speech—at the close of the volume—delivered by Mr.
Bell, nine years ago, on the inauguration of the Monument in the
“Auld Aisle” Burying-ground. Of the movement which resulted in this
tribute to departed genius, the late Sheriff was one of the most active
promoters. Himself a poet, and a generous patron of all genuine art,
the West of Scotland has known no “larger heart” or “kindlier hand.”
There is something suggestive in the fact that his last effort was to
throw another wreath on the early tomb of David Gray.
_March, 1874._
_CONTENTS._
PAGE
THE LUGGIE, 1
IN THE SHADOWS, 63
Miscellaneous Poems.
A WINTER RAMBLE, 99
THE HOME-COMER, 104
MY BROWN LITTLE BROTHER OF THREE, 108
THE “AULD AISLE,” 111
TO JEANETTE, 120
THE POET AND HIS FRIEND, 124
THE TWO STREAMS, 127
EVENING, 132
THE LOVE-TRYST, 134
AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND, 139
A VISION OF VENICE, 145
THE ANEMONE, 150
THE YELLOWHAMMER, 154
THE CUCKOO, 158
FAME, 161
HONEYSUCKLE, 164
WHERE THE LILIES USED TO SPRING, 167
SNOW, 170
OCTOBER, 175
THE ROMAN DYKE, 179
Sonnets.
EZEKIEL, 183
THE MAVIS, 184
DESPONDENCY, 185
THE MOON, I., II., 186
THE LUGGIE, I., II., III., 188
THOMAS THE RHYMER, 191
THE LIME-TREE, 192
THE BROOKLET, 193
MAIDENHOOD, 194
SLEEP, 195
THE DAYS OF OLD MYTHOLOGY, 196
DISCONTENTMENT, 197
SNOW, 198
THE THRUSH, 199
STARS, 200
MY EPITAPH, 201