Syne lean'd her down ayont the fire,
And died for lack of fnishing.

Ye auld wives notice well this truth,
As foon as ye're paft mark of mouth,
Ne'er do what's only fit for youth,
And leave aff thoughts of fnifhing;
Elfe, like this wife beyont the fire,
Your bairns against you will confpire,
Nor will ye get, unless ye hire,
A young man with your fnishing.

IN

SONG CCLXXXI.

RURAL FELICITY.

A Favourite New Song.

N the morn as I walk'd thro' the mead,
And trode on
the carpet of green,
I view'd the sweet flocks as they feed;
What equals the beautiful scene!
Thro' the groves as they pafs'd with delight,
In view of yon ever green pine;

What fenfation I feel at the fight
Of a profpect fo rural and fine.

Hark the birds, as they perch in the bough,
With melody pleafing the ear:
See the hind from afar with his plough,
Denoting the time of the year.
As I ftray'd thro' the neighbouring vale,
Encompass'd by mountains fo high,
O what charms do I find in the day,
By the ftream that runs bubbling by.

At the foot of yon fycamore tree
Sits the shepherd a tuning his reed;
While his lambs frolic round him with glee,
His fheep along fide of him feed.

But what harmony's that which I hear,
'Tis the bells from yon neighbouring vill:
O how pleasing's the found to my ear,
By the fide of this murmuring rill.
There's no pleasure to me so sweet
As that which the country gives :
I am happy, thank God, at my feat,
Where rural felicity lives.

SONG

CCLXXXII.

THE PROGRESS OF LO V E.

Addreffed to every Young Lady.

N rip'ning age, the female breast
To love's foft influence prone;

IN

Forfakes its ufual wonted reft,

And all its joys are flown;

Ah! haplefs, more than hapless state!
When fome unworthy youth
Stern Providence decrees to mate
With innocence and truth.

Reverfe the scene, what raptures reign,
Where worth with beauty join'd,

Complete a union void of pain;

Bleft union of the mind!

Extatic blifs! (beyond the height

Of fortune's fordid fway)

Then crowns each peaceful blifsful night,
And hails each coming day.

Such, Myra, fuch the youth fhall prove,

Whom fate ordains with thee,

To taste the sweets of mutual love,
From care, from difcord free :
Grown old in love, as well as age,
You'll gently meet decay,
And, envy'd, grace the future page
Of fome immortal lay.

The Death of Auld Robin Gray, and Jamie's Return.

A Favourite Scotch Ballad. Sung by Mrs. Kennedy at Vauxhall Gardens.

HE fummer it was fmiling, all nature round was gay, When Jenny was attending on Auld Robin Gray; For he was fick at heart, and had nae friend befide, But only me poor Jenny, who newly was his bride. Ah! Jenny, I fhall die, he cry'd, as fure as I had birth; Then fee my poor old bones, I pray, laid into the earth: And be a widow for my fake a twelvemonth and a day, And I will leave whate'er belongs to Auld Robin Gray.

Ι

I laid poor Robin in the earth as decent as I cou'd, And fhed a tear upon his grave, for he was very good; I took my rock into my hand, and in my cot I figh'd, Oh wae is me, what shall I do, fince poor Auld Robin died.

Search ev'ry part throughout the land, there's none like me forlorn,

I'm ready e'en to ban the day that ever I was born; For Jamie, all I lov'd on earth, ah! he is gone away, My father's dead, my mother's dead, and eke Auld Robin Gray.

I rose up with the morning fun, and spun till fetting day, And one whole year of widowhood I mourn'd for Robin Gray:

I did the duty of a wife, both kind and conftant too; Let every one example take, and Jenny's plan pursue.

I thought that Jamie he was dead, or he was to me loft,
And all my fond and youthful love entirely was croft:
I try'd to fing, I try'd to laugh, and pass the time away,
For I had ne'er a friend alive fince dy'd Auld Robin Gray.

At length the merry bells rung round, I cou'dna guess the caufe ; (applause, But Rodney was the man, they faid, who gain'd fo much I doubted if the tale was true, till Jamie came to me, And fhew'd a purfe of golden ore, and said It is for thee, Auld Robin Gray I find is dead, and ftill thy heart is true, Then take me, Jenny, to thy arms, and I will be fo too, Mefs John fhall join us at the kirk, and we'll be blithe and gay,

I blush'd, consented, and reply'd Adieu to Robin Gray.

SONG CCLXXXIV.

YOUNG JOCKEY BLITHE.

YOUNG Jockey blithe at early dawn,

Starts fresh and fair as roses blawn;

Then o'er the dewy lawn he roves,

And greets the lafs he dearly loves.

Sweet fmells the birk, green grows the grass,
Dear Jug, will naething move thee,
Be kind, be true, my bonny lass,
I only live to love thee.

To merit I no claim can make,
But that I'd die for your dear sake;
From every other bus'nefs free,
My life and love fhall follow thee.
Sweet fmells the birk, &c.

Time's on the wing, and will not stay,
In fhining fun let's make our hay.
While love does at his altar ftand,
Give me your heart, O give your hand.
Sweet fmells the birk, &c.

SOFT pleafing pains unknown before,

My bofom feels, When I beheld the peaceful bow'r

Where deareft Delia dwells.
There daily do I drive my flock,
Ah happy, happy vale,

There figh and look, and while I look,
My fighs encrease the gale.

Sometimes at midnight do I ftray,
Beneath th' inclement skies,
And there my true devotion pay
To Delia's fleep-feal'd eyes;
So pious pilgrims nightly rove,
With tedious travel faint,
To kifs alone the clay cold tomb
Of fome lov'd favourite faint.

Oh tell, ye fhades that hold my fair,
And all my blifs contain,

Ah, why fhou'd ye thofe bleffings fhare

For which I figh in vain :

But let me not at fate repine,

Or thus my griefs impart,

She's not your tenant, fhe is mine,
Her manfion is my heart.

T

HREE lads contended for my heart,

Each boafted diff'rent charms and grace ;
Young Hall cou'd fing with taste and art;
Beau Jemmy sported frogs and lace;