DEDICATION

Of the Second Edition of the Poems formerly printed.

TO THE

NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN

OF THE

CALEDONIAN HUNT.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his country's service, where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land; those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their Ancestors? The Poetic Genius of my Country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha—at the PLOUGH; and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue: I tuned my wild, artless notes , as she inspired. She whispered me to come to this ancient Metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my Songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates.

Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours : that path

VOL. III.

b

is

is so hackneyed by prostituted learning, that honest rusti-

city is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this Address with

the venal soul of a servile Author, looking for a conti-

nuation of those favours: I was bred to the plough, and

am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish

name with you, my illustrious Countrymen; and to tell

the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratu-

late my Country, that the blood of her ancient Heroes

still runs uncontaminated; and that from your courage,

knowledge, and public spirit, she may expect protection,

wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer

I

my warmest wishes to the Great Fountain of Honour, the

Monarch of the Universe, for your welfare and happiness.

When you go forth to waken the Echoes, in the an-

cient and favourite amusement of your Forefathers, may

Pleasure ever be of your party; and may social Joy

await your return! When harassed in courts or camps

with the justlings of bad nien and bad measures, may

the

honest consciousness of injured Worth attend

to your native seats; and may Domestic Happiness, with

a smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May Cor-

ruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance; and

may Tyranny in the Ruler, and Licentiousness in the

People, equally find you an inexorable foe!

CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

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50

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Page

The Twa Dogs. A Tale,

1

Scotch Drink,

12

The Author's earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch

Representatives in the House of Commons,

19

The Holy Fair, .

28

Death and Dr. Hornbook,

40

The Brigs of Ayr,

The Ordination,

61

The Calf,

68

Address to the Deil,

70

The Death and Dying Words of Poor Mailie, 77

Poor Mailie's Elegy,

81

To J. S****,

84

A Dream,

92

The Vision,

99

Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous, 113

Tam Samson's Elegy,

117

Halloween,

124

The Auld Farmer's New-Year Morning Salutation

to his Auld Mare Maggie,

140

To a Mouse, .

146

A Winter Night,

149

Epistle to Davie, a Brother Poet,

154

The Lament, .

162

Despondency. An Ode,

167

Winter. A Dirge,

171

The Cotter's Saturday Night,

173

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Page

Man was made to Mourn. A Dirge,

183

A Prayer in the Prospect of Death,

188

Stanzas on the same Occasion,

190

Verses left at a Friend's House,

192

The First Psalm,

195

A Prayer,

197

The First Six Verses of the Ninetieth Psalm, 199

To a Mountain Daisy,.

201

To Ruin, .

204

To Miss L- with Beattie's Poems for a New-

Year's Gift,

206

Epistle to a Young Friend,

208

On a Scottish Bard gone to the West Indies,

213

To a Haggis,

217

A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.

220

To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet at

Church,

227

Address to Edinburgh, .

230

Epistle to J. Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard,

234

To the Same,

241

Epistle to W. S*****, Ochiltree,.

217

Epistle to J. R******, inclosing some Poems,

,

256

John Barleycorn. A Ballad,

261

A Fragment, “When Guildford good our pilot stood),” 266

Song, “ It was upon a Lammas-night,”.

271

Song,

“ Now westlin winds, and slaught'ring guns," 274

Song, “ Behind yon hills where Lugar flows," 277

Green grow the Rashes. A Fragment,

280

Song, “ Again rejoicing Nature sees,”

283

Song, “ The gloomy night is gathering fast," 287

Song, « From thee, Eliza, I must go,"

290

The Farewel, to the Brethren of St. James's Lodge,

Tarbolton, .

292

Song, “ No churchman am I for to rail and to write," 295

3

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