And, for thy potence, vainly wished
To crush the villain in the dust.

For lack o' thee I leave this much-loved shore, Never perhaps to greet old Scotland more.

R. B.- Kyle.

WRITTEN

ON A BLANK LEAF OF A COPY OF THE POEMS, PRESENTED TO AN OLD SWEETHEART,1 THEN MARRIED.

ONCE fondly loved, and still remembered dear, Sweet early object of my youthful vows! Accept this mark of friendship, warm, sincereFriendship! 'tis all cold duty now allows.

And when you read the simple artless rhymes,
One friendly sigh for him—he asks no more,
Who distant burns in flaming torrid climes,
Or haply lies beneath the Atlantic's roar.

1 According to Dr. Currie, this old sweetheart was a girl whom the poet had seen at Kirkoswald, when he was attending school there. If so, she was a Mrs. Neilson, living in Ayr.

VERSES WRITTEN UNDER VIOLENT

GRIEF.1

ACCEPT the gift a friend sincere
Wad on thy worth be pressin' ;
Remembrance oft may start a tear,
But oh that tenderness forbear,

Though 'twad my sorrows lessen.

My morning raise sae clear and fair,
I thought sair storms wad never
Bedew the scene; but grief and care
In wildest fury hae made bare
My peace, my hope, for ever!

You think I'm glad; oh, I pay weel
For a' the joy I borrow,
In solitude - then, then I feel
I canna to mysel' conceal

My deeply-ranklin' sorrow.

Farewell! within thy bosom free
A sigh may whiles awaken n;

A tear may wet thy laughin' e'e,

Now hopeless, comfortless, forsaken!

1 These verses were probably written, like the preceding, on a copy of the volume of poems. They were first published in the Sun newspaper, April, 1823.

RIGHT, sir! your text I'll prove it true,
Though heretics may laugh;

For instance, there's yoursel' just now,
God knows, an unco calf!

And should some patron be so kind,
As bless you wi' a kirk,

I doubt na, sir, but then we'll find

Ye're still as great a stirk.

year-old bullock

1 Afterwards minister of one of the Scotch churches in London, and ultimately of Kilwinning, in Ayrshire. The tradition in the family of Mr. Gavin Hamilton is, that the poet, in passing to the church at Mauchline, called at Mr. Hamilton's, who, being confined with the gout, could not accompany him, but desired him, as parents do with children, to bring home a note of the text. At the conclusion of the service, Burns called again, and sitting down for a minute at Mr. Hamilton's business-table, scribbled these verses, by way of a compliance with the request. From a memorandum by Burns himself, it would appear that there was also a wager with Mr. Hamilton as to his producing a poem in a certain time, and that he gained it by inditing The Calf.

But if the lover's raptured hour
Shall ever be your lot,

Forbid it, every heavenly power,
You e'er should be a stot!

OX

Though, when some kind, connubial dear, Your but-and-ben adorns, kitchen and parlor The like has been that you may wear

A noble head of horns.

And in your lug, most reverend James,
To hear you roar and rowte,

ear

bellow

Few men o' sense will doubt your claims
To rank amang the nowte.

And when ye're numbered wi' the dead,
Below a grassy hillock,

Wi' justice they may mark your head
"Here lies a famous bullock!"

cattle

WILLIE CHALMERS.

Mr. William Chalmers, writer in Ayr, who had drawn up an assignation of the bard's property, was in love, and it occurred to him to ask Burns to address the admired object in his behalf. The poet, who had seen the lady, but was scarcely acquainted with her,

readily complied by producing the following specimen of vicarious courtship.

Wr' braw new branks in mickle pride, bridle

And eke a braw new brechan,

collar

My Pegasus I'm got astride,

And up Parnassus pechin';

panting

Whiles owre a bush wi' downward crush,

The doited beastie stammers;

Then up he gets, and off he sets,

For sake o' Willie Chalmers.

I doubt na, lass, that weel-kenned name
May cost a pair o' blushes;

I am nae stranger to your fame,
Nor his warm urgèd wishes.
Your bonny face sae mild and sweet,
His honest heart enamours,

And faith ye'll no be lost a whit,

Though waired on Willie Chalmers.

stupid

spent

Auld Truth hersel' might swear ye're fair,
And Honour safely back her,

And Modesty assume your air,
And ne'er a ane mistak' her:
And sic twa love-inspiring een
Might fire even holy palmers;
Nae wonder, then, they've fatal been
To honest Willie Chalmers.