I've heard my reverend grannie say, Ye fright the nightly wanderer's way When twilight did my graunie summon, Or, rustlin', thro' the boortries comin', Ae dreary, windy, winter night, Ayont the lough;8 9 Ye, like a rash-bush, stood in sight, Wi' waving sugh.10 The cudgel in my nieve" did shake, 12 When wi' an eldritch stour, quaick—quaick- Awa' ye squatter'd like a drake, On whistling wings. Let warlocks1 grim, an' wither'd hags, And in kirk-yards renew their leagues 1 Frightful. hollow moan.-2 Wise, good.-3 Beyond.-4 Frighted, or frightful.- Elder-trees.-6 One.-7 Glimmering.-8 A pool, or sheet of water.A bush, or large tuft of rushes.-10 Rushing noise of wind or water.11 Hand, or fist.-12 The raising a cloud of dust.-13 Fluttered in water.14 Wizards.-15 Ragwort. 16 Digged up, or disinterred. Those who are, or were, believers in the old traditions relative to witchcraft, supposed that the incantations of these demoniacs were frequently performed over dead bodies, which they dug, scratched, or conjured out of their graves in order to perform their devilish orgies more effectually. Thence countra wives wi' toil an' pain, 2 An' dawtit, twal-pint3 Hawkie 's1 gaen' Thence mystic knots mak great abuse, 8 On young guidmen, fond, keen, an' crouse;" Is instant made no worth a louse, When thowes12 dissolve the snawy hoord, Then Water kelpies's haunt the foord, An' 'nighted travellers are allured An' aft your moss-traversing Spunkies,14 Till in some miry slough he sunk is, When Masons' mystic word an' grip 1 Churn.-2 Fondled, caressed. - 3 Twelve-pint. - 4 Cow. —4 • Barren. 7 Bull. The literal English meaning of these last two lines is, that a favorite cow, that gave daily twelve Scotch pints of milk (equal to forty-eight English pints), is becoming as barren as a bull, in consequence of witchcraft. 8 Men newly married.- Courageous. 10 A working tool. Fully to appreciate the meaning of the stanza beginning "Thence mystic knots," it is necessary for the English reader to know, that a tradition was entertained in Scotland of the power of witchcraft to prevent consummation on the bridal night, by rendering the "young guid man" powerless "just at the bit," or moment when, &c. 11 A charm or spell.-12 Thaws. 13 A mischievous kind of spirits, said to haunt fords, or ferries, particularly in stormy nights. 14 Will-o'-the-wisp, or Jack-a-lantern. Some cock or cat your rage maun stop, The youngest brother ye wad whip Lang syne in Eden's bonnie yard, Sweet on the fragrant, flowery swaird, Then you, ye auld, snick-drawing1 dog! An' played on man a cursed brogue, (Black be your fa'!) An' gied the infant warld a shog,2 4 'Maist ruin'd a'. 5 D'ye mind that day, when in a bizz,3 'Mang better folk, An' sklented' on the man of Uz An' how ye gat him i' your thrall, An' lows'd his ill-tongued wicked scawl," But a' your doings to rehearse, Your wily snares an' fechting1o fierce, Wad ding12 a' Lallan tongue, or Erse, An' now, auld Cloots, I ken ye 're thinkin', 1 Trick-contriving.-2 A violent shock.-3 Bustle.-4 Smoky clothes.• Withered, or scorched wig.—6 Ugly, or smutty.—7 Hit aslant, or obliquely. -—8 Loosed.—9 A scold.-10 Fighting.-11 Vide Milton, book vi.-12 Puzzle. Some luckless hour will send him linkin',' To your black pit; But, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin'," But fare you weel, auld Nickie-ben! I'm wae to think upon yon den, Even for your sake!5 2 ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH. EDINA! Scotia's darling seat! Here Wealth still swells the golden tide, Thy sons, Edina, social, kind, With open arms the stranger hail Or modest merit's silent claim; 1 Tripping.-2 Dodging.-3 Perhaps.-4 Do not know. 5 Written in the winter of 1784-5. "The idea of an Address to the Deil was suggested to the poet, by running over in his mind the many ludicrous accounts and representations we have, from various quarters, of this august personage.”—-Gilbert Burns. And never may their sources fail! Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn! And own his work indeed divine! There, watching high the least alarms, Grim-rising o'er the rugged rock; With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears, Wild beats my heart to trace your steps, Haply my sires have left their shed, And faced grim danger's loudest roar, Bold-following where your fathers led! Edina! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and towers, Where once beneath a monarch's feet Sat Legislation's sovereign powers! 1 Miss Burnet of Monboddo. |