As get a single line of Virgil. your jokes O' Willie Pitt and Charlie Fox, Ane maist wad swear ye dwalt amang them, And though the cauld I ill can bide, 'T wad haud your shouthers warm and braw, BURNS TO THE GUDEWIFE OF WAUCHOPE I HOUSE. MIND it weel in early date, When I was beardless, young, and blate, Or haud a yokin' at the pleugh, And though forfoughten sair eneugh, Yet unco proud to learn: When first among the yellow corn A man I reckoned was, And wi' the lave ilk merry morn E'en then, a wish, I mind its power Shall strongly heave my breast That I, for poor auld Scotland's sake, Some usefu' plan or beuk could make, Or sing a sang at least. The rough burr-thissle, spreading wide I turned the weeder-clips aside, My envy e'er could raise, I knew nae higher praise. But still the elements o' sang, Till on that har'st I said before, Her witching smile, her pauky een At every kindling keek, Health to the sex, ilk guid chiel says, Ye surly sumphs, who hate the name, She, honest woman, may think shame That ye're connected with her. Ye're wae men, ye 're nae men That slight the lovely dears; To shame ye, disclaim ye, Ilk honest birkie swears. For you, no bred to barn and byre, Or proud imperial purple. Fareweel then, lang heal then, Ne'er at your hallan ca'! WILLIAM SMELLIE. To Crochallan came, The old cocked-hat, the gray surtout, the same; RATTLIN', ROARIN' WILLIE. ASI cam by Crochallan, I cannilie keckit ben; Rattlin', roarin' Willie Was sitting at yon boord-en'; And amang gude companie; Ye're welcome hame to me! INSCRIPTION FOR THE GRAVE OF FERGUSSON. HERE LIES ROBERT FERGUSSON, POET. BORN, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1751; DIED, 16TH OCTOBER, 1774. NO sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, "No storied urn, nor animated bust; This simple stone directs pale Scotia's way To pour her sorrows o'er her Poet's dust. VERSES UNDER THE PORTRAIT OF FERGUS CURSE SON. on ungrateful man, that can be pleased, And yet can starve the author of the pleasure! Oh thou, my elder brother in misfortune, By far my elder brother in the Muses, VERSES INTENDED TO BE WRITTEN BELOW A NOBLE EARL'S PICTURE. [THE EARL OF GLENCAIRN.] WHOSE is that noble, dauntless brow? And whose that eye of fire? |