V. CXLVIII. THE HERON BALLADS. [BALLAD FIRST.] [This is the first of several party ballads which Burns wrote to serve Patrick Heron, of Kerroughtree, in two elections for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in which he was opposed, first, by Gordon of Balmaghie, and secondly, by the Hon. Montgomery Stewart. There is a personal bitterness in these lampoons, which did not mingle with the strains in which the poet recorded the contest between Miller and Johnstone. They are printed here as matters of poetry, and I feel sure that none will be displeased, and some will smile.] I. WHOM will you send to London town, To Parliament and a' that? Or wha in a' the country round Where is the laird or belted knight A beardless boy comes o'er the hills, For a' that, an' a' that, VI. Then let us drink the Stewartry, For a' that, an' a' that, Here's Heron yet for a' that. II. Wha sees Kerroughtree's open yett, For a' that, and a' that, III. Tho' wit and worth in either sex, For a' that, and a' that, IV. But why should we to nobles jouk, For a' that, an' a' that, CXLIX. THE HERON BALLADS. [BALLAD SECOND.] [In this ballad the poet gathers together, after the manner of "Fy! let us a' to the bridal," all the leading electors of the Stewartry, who befriended Heron, or opposed him; and draws their portraits in the colours of light or darkness, according to the complexion of their politics. He is too severe in most instances, and in some he is venomous. On the Earl of Galloway's family, and on the Murrays of Broughton and Caillie, as well as on Bushby of Tinwaldowns, he pours his hottest satire. But words which are unjust, or undeserved, fall off their victims like rain-drops from a wild-duck's wing. The Murrays of Broughton and Caillie have long borne, from the vulgar, the stigma of treachery to the cause of Prince Charles Stewart: from such infamy the family is wholly free: the traitor, Murray, was of a race now extinct; and while he was betraying the cause in which so much noble and gallant blood was shed, Murray of Broughton and Caillie was performing the duties of an honourable and loyal man: he was, like his great-grandson now, representing his native district in parliament.] THE ELECTION. I. Fy, let us a' to Kirkcudbright, For there will be bickerin' there; For Murray's' light horse are to muster, And O, how the heroes will swear! 1 Murray, of Broughton and Caillie, XI. Then hey the chaste interest o' Broughton, -y, Our land who wi' chapels has stor❜d; He founder'd his horse among harlots, But gied the auld naig to the Lord. CL. THE HERON BALLADS. [BALLAD THIRD.] [This third and last ballad was written on the contest between Heron and Stewart, which followed close on that with Gordon. Heron carried the election, but was unseated by the decision of a Committee of the House of Commons: a decision which it is said he took so much to heart that it affected his health, and shortened his Life.] AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG. Tune.-" Buy broom besoms.” WHA will buy my troggin, Fine election ware; Broken trade o' Broughton, A' in high repair. Buy braw troggin, Frae the banks o' Dee; Wha wants troggin Let him come to me. There's a noble Earl's1 Fame and high renown For an auld sang It's thought the gudes were stown. Here's the worth o' Broughton2 In a needle's ee; Here's a reputation Tint by Balmaghie. Buy braw troggin, &c. 1 The Earl of Galloway. 2 Murray, of Broughton and Caillie. 3 Bushby, of Tinwald-downs. 4 Maxwell, of Cardoness. The Minister of Buittle. Here's an honest conscience Buy braw troggin, &c. Here's its stuff and lining, A' the wale o' lead. Buy braw troggin, &c. Here's a little wadset Quenching holy drouth. Buy braw troggin, &c. Here's armorial bearings Buy braw troggin, &c. Here is Satan's picture, Buy braw troggin, &c. Here's the worth and wisdom By a thievish midge They had been nearly lost. Here is Murray's fragments To get them aff his hands. Saw ye e'er sic troggin? If to buy ye're slack, Hornie's turnin' chapman, He'll buy a' the pack. Buy braw troggin, Frae the banks o' Dee; Wha wants troggin Let him come to me. 6 Morehead, of Urr. 7 Laurie, of Redcastle. 8 Copland, of Collieston and Blackwood. 9 John Bushby, of Tinwald-downs. CLI. POEM, ADDRESSED TO MR. MITCHELL, COLLECTOR OF EXCISE. DUMFRIES, 1796. [The gentleman to whom this very modest, and, under the circumstances, most affecting application for his salary was made, filled the office of Collector of Excise for the district, and was of a kind and generous nature: but few were aware that the poet was suffering both from ill-health and poverty.] FRIEND of the Poet, tried and leal, Wi' a' his witches Are at it, skelpin' jig and reel, In my poor pouches! I modestly fu' fain wad hint it, It would be kind; And while my heart wi' life-blood dunted I'd bear't in mind. So may the auld year gang out moaning To see the new come laden, groaning, Wi' double plenty o'er the loanin To thee and thine; Domestic peace and comforts crowning The hale design. CLII. ΤΟ MISS JESSY LEWA RS, DUMFRIES. WITH JOHNSON'S MUSICAL MUSEUM.' [Miss Jessy Lewars watched over the declining days of the poet, with the affectionate reverence of a daughter: for this she has the silent gratitude of all who admire the genius of Burns; she has received more, the thanks of the poet himself, expressed in verses not destined soon to die.] THINE be the volumes, Jessy fair, POSTSCRIPT. YE'VE heard this while how I've been licket, But by guid luck I lap a wicket, And turn'd a neuk. But by that health, I've got a share o't, CLIII. POEM ON LIFE, ADDRESSED TO COLONEL DE PEYSTER. DUMFRIES, 1796. [This is supposed to be the last Poem written by the hand, or conceived by the muse of Burns. The person to whom it is addressed was Colonel of the gentlemen Volunteers of Dumfries, in whose ranks Burus was a private he was a Canadian by birth, and prided himself on having defended Detroit, against the united efforts of the French and Americans. He was rough and austere, and thought the science of war the noblest of all sciences: he affected a taste for literature, and wrote verses. My honoured colonel, deep I feel Your interest in the Poet's weal; Ah! now sma' heart hae I to speel The steep Parnassus, Surrounded thus by bolus, pill, And potion glasses. O what a canty warld were it, As they deserve! (And aye a rowth, roast beef and claret; Syne, wha wad starve ?) ON THE AUTHOR'S FATHER. [William Burness merited his son's eulogiums: he was an example of piety, patience, and fortitude.] O YE whose cheek the tear of pity stains, Draw near with pious rev'rence and attend! Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, The tender father and the gen'rous friend. The pitying heart that felt for human woe; The dauntless heart that feared no human The friend of man, to vice alone a foe; [pride; "For ev'n his failings lean'd to virtue's side." ON A FRIEND. [The name of this friend is neither mentioned nor alluded to in any of the poet's productions.] AN honest man here lies at rest II. ON R. A., ESQ. [Robert Aiken, Esq., to whom "The Cotter's Saturday Night" is addressed: a kind and generous man.] KNOW thou, O stranger to the fame IV. FOR GAVIN HAMILTON. [These lines allude to the persecution which Hamilton endured for presuming to ride on Sunday, and say, “damn it,” in the presence of the minister of Mauchline.] THE poor man weeps-here Gavin sleeps, |