I, for their thoughtless, careless sakes, Their donsie tricks, their black mistakes, Ye see your state wi' theirs compar'd, But cast a moment's fair regard, And (what's aft mair than a' the lave) Think, when your castigated pulse Wi' wind and tide fair i' your tail, See Social life and Glee sit down, O would they stay to calculate Th' eternal consequences; Or your more dreaded hell to state, Ye high, exalted, virtuous Dames, Before ye gie poor Frailty names, Then gently scan your brother Man, One point must still be greatly dark, How far perhaps they rue it. 1 Unlucky. 2 Exchange. 3 Transformed. May be. 5 Small matter. Who made the heart, 'tis He alone He knows each chord-its various tone, What's done we partly may compute, TAM SAMSON'S ELEGY.' An honest man's the noblest work of God.-Pope. To preach an' read ? "Tam Samson's dead!" Kilmarnock lang may grunt an' grane, To Death she's dearly paid the kane," The Brethren o' the mystic level May hing their head in woefu' bevel, While by their nose the tears will revel, Death's gien the Lodge an unco devel, Tam Samson's dead! When Winter muffles up his cloak, And binds the mire like a rock; When to the loughs the Curlers flock Wi' gleesome speed, Wha will they station at the cock? Tam Samson's dead? 1 When this worthy old sportsman went out last muir-fowl season, he supposed it was to be, in Ossian's phrase, "the last of his fields;" and expressed an ardent wish to die and be buried in the muirs. On this hint the author composed his Elegy and Epitaph.-R. B. 2 A certain preacher, a great favourite with the million.-Vide The Ordina tion, stanza ii.-R. B. Another preacher, an equal favourite with the few, who was at that time ailing. For him, see also The Ordination, stanza ix.-R. B. 6 Rent. * Herself alone. 5 Clothe He was the king o' a' the Core, In time o' need; But now he lags on Death's hog-score,1 Now safe the stately Sawmont2 sail, And Geds for greed, Since dark in Death's fish-creel we wail Rejoice, ye birring Paitricks3 a'; Ye cootie Moorcocks, crousely craw ;* Your mortal Fae is now awa', Tam Samson's dead! That woefu' morn be ever mourn'd But, Och! he gaed and ne'er return'd! In vain auld age his body batters; Now ev'ry auld wife, greetin, clatters, 66 Owre mony a weary hag he limpit, Now he proclaims, wi' tout o' trumpet, When at his heart he felt the dagger, Wi' weel-aim'd heed; "Lord, five!" he cry'd, an' owre did stagger; Tam Samson's dead! 1 A distance line in curling, drawn across the rink. 2 Salmon. 3 Partridges. 4 Cheerfully crow. 5 Hares. 6 Tail. 7 Dress. Feud. Ilk hoary hunter mourn'd a brither; Whare Burns has wrote, in rhyming blether, There, low he lies, in lasting rest; To hatch and breed; Alas! nae mair he'll them molest! Tam Samson's dead! When August winds the heather wave, O' pouther an' lead, Till Echo answer frae her cave, Tam Samson's dead! Heav'n rest his saul, whare'er he be ! Yet what remead ? Ae social, honest man want we: Tam Samson's dead! THE EPITAPH. TAM SAMSON'S weel-worn clay here lies, PER CONTRA.1 Go, Fame, an' canter like a filly Tell ev'ry social, honest billie To cease his grievin, For yet, unskaith'd by Death's gleg gullie,3 Tam Samson's livin! The "Per Contra" was a peace-offering to the old sportsman, angry at his poetical dissolution. Burns retired to the window in Tam's apartment for a few minutes, and returned with this stanza on his lips. 2 Killie is a phrase the country-folks sometimes use for the name of a certain town in the west [Kilmarnock].-R. B. 3 Sharp knife. |