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ROB ROY’S GRAVE

Composed between 1803 and 1805.—­Published 1807

The History of Rob Roy is sufficiently known; his Grave is near the head of Loch Ketterine, in one of those small Pin-fold-like Burial-grounds, of neglected and desolate appearance, which the Traveller meets with in the Highlands of Scotland.—­W.  W. 1807.

[I have since been told that I was misinformed as to the burial-place of Rob Roy.  If so, I may plead in excuse that I wrote on apparently good authority, namely, that of a well educated Lady who lived at the head of the Lake, within a mile or less of the point indicated as containing the remains of One so famous in the neighbourhood.—­I.  F.]

In the copy of ‘Rob Roy’s Grave’, transcribed in Dorothy Wordsworth’s ‘Recollections’ of the Tour in Scotland of 1803, there are several important variations of text, which occur in none of the printed editions of the poem.  These are indicated (to distinguish them from other readings) by the initials D. W.—­Ed.

One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection” in 1815 and 1820.—­Ed.

  A famous man is Robin Hood,
  The English ballad-singer’s joy! 
  And Scotland has a thief as good,
  An outlaw of as daring mood;

  She has her brave ROB ROY! [1] 5
  Then clear the weeds from off his Grave,
  And let us chant a passing stave,
  In honour of that Hero [2] brave!

  Heaven gave Rob Roy a dauntless [3] heart
  And wondrous length and strength of arm:  [A] 10
  Nor craved he more to quell his foes,
    Or keep his friends from harm.

  Yet was Rob Roy as wise as brave;
  Forgive me if the phrase be strong;—­
  A Poet worthy of Rob Roy 15
    Must scorn a timid song.

  Say, then, that he was wise as brave;
  As wise in thought as bold in deed: 
  For in the principles of things
    He sought his moral creed. [4] 20

  Said generous Rob, “What need of books? 
  Burn all the statutes and their shelves: 
  They stir us up against our kind;
    And worse, against ourselves.

  “We have a passion—­make a law, 25
  Too false to guide us or control! 
  And for the law itself we fight
    In bitterness of soul.

  “And, puzzled, blinded thus, we lose
  Distinctions that are plain and few:  30
  These find I graven on my heart: 
    That tells me what to do.

  “The creatures see of flood and field,
  And those that travel on the wind! 
  With them no strife can last; they live 35
    In peace, and peace of mind.

  “For why?—­because the good old rule
  Sufficeth them, the simple plan,
  That they should take, who have the power,
    And they should keep who can. 40