THE CALF. TO THE REV. MR. JAMES STEVEN,1 On his Text, Malachi, iv. 2. "And ye shall go forth, and grow up as CALVES of the stall." RIGHT, sir! your text I'll prove it true, For instance, there's yoursel' just now, And should some patron be so kind, 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, 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, ear bellow Few men o' sense will doubt your claims And when ye're numbered wi' the dead, Wi' justice they may mark your head 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'; 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 I am nae stranger to your fame, His honest heart enamours, And faith ye'll no be lost a whit, Though waired on Willie Chalmers. panting stupid spent Auld Truth hersel' might swear ye're fair, I doubt na fortune may you shore Fu' lifted up wi' Hebrew lore, And band upon his breastie : Some gapin' glowrin' country laird May claw his lug, and straik his beard, And hoast up some palaver. My bonny maid, before ye wed Sic clumsy-witted hammers, Seek Heaven for help, and barefit skelp Forgive the Bard! my fond regard For ane that shares my bosom, Inspires my Muse to gie'm his dues, For deil a hair I roose him. May powers aboon unite you soon, And fructify your amours, promise prim staring wrestle ear cough fly flatter TAM SAMSON'S ELEGY.1 "An honest man's the noblest work of God." - POPE. HAS auld Kilmarnock seen the deil? 66 3 To preach and read? Na, waur than a'!" cries ilka chiel - Kilmarnock lang may grunt and grane, wean, In mourning weed; To Death she's dearly paid the kane The brethren o' the mystic level May hing their head in woefu' bevel, alone clothe tribute crook 1 Thomas Samson was one of the poet's Kilmarnock friends a nursery and seedsman of good credit, a zealous sportsman, and a good fellow. 2 A preacher, a great favourite with the million. See The Ordination, stanza ii. — B. 3 Another preacher, an equal favourite with the few, who was at that time ailing. For him also see The Ordination, stanza ix. B. 4 For a minister to read his sermons, as is often done by those of moderate denomination, is often a cause of great unpopularity in Scotland. |