There's some are fou o' brandy; And monie jobs that day begin May end in houghmagandy Some ither day. ON A SCOTCH BARD, GONE TO THE WEST INDIES. A'YE wha live by sowps o' drink, Our billie's gien us a' a jink, Lament him a' ye rantin' core, For now he's ta'en anither shore, Auld cantie Kyle may weepers wear, And stain them wi' the saut, saut tear; 'T will mak her poor auld heart, I fear, In flinders flee; He was her laureate monie a year, That's owre the sea. He saw misfortune's cauld nor-west A jillet brak his heart at last, So, took a berth afore the mast, To tremble under Fortune's cummock, So row't his hurdies in a hammock, He ne'er was gien to great misguiding, Yet coin his pouches wadna bide in; Wi' him it ne'er was under hiding .He dealt it free: The Muse was a' that he took pride in, That's owre the sea. Jamaica bodies, use him weel, He wadna wranged the very dei', Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie! I'll toast ye in my hinmost gillie, A BARD'S EPITAPH. Is there a whim-inspired fool, Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule, Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool, Let him draw near; And owre this grassy heap sing dool, Is there a bard of rustic song, Who, noteless, steals the crowds among, But, with a frater-feeling strong, Is there a man, whose judgment clear, Here pause — and, through the starting tear Survey this grave. The poor inhabitant below, Was quick to learn, and wise to know, But thoughtless follies laid him low, Or darkling grubs this earthly hole, Know, prudent, cautious self-control DEDICATION TO GAVIN HAMILTON, Esq. EXPECT na, sir, in this narration, A fleechin, fleth'rin dedication, To roose you up, and ca' you guid, Then when I'm tired, and sae are ye, This do The Poet, some guid angel help him, The Patron (sir, ye maun forgie me, I readily and freely grant, He downa see a poor man want; What ance he says he winna break it; But then nae thanks to him for a' that, That he's the poor man's friend in need, Morality, thou deadly bane, Thy tens o' thousands thou hast slain ! Vain is his hope whose stay and trust is In moral mercy, truth, and justice ! |