1 Even then, sometimes, we'd snatch a taste The honest heart that's free frae a' However Fortune kick'd the ba', What tho', like commoners of air, Yet Nature's charms, the hills and woods, In days when daisies deck the ground, On braes when we please, then, 4 Syne3 rhyme till 't, we 'll time till 't, It's no in titles nor in rank; It's no in wealth like Lon'on bank, Nae treasures, nor pleasures, That makes us right or wrang. Think ye, that sic as you and I, Wha drudge and drive thro' wet an' dry, 1 Without.-2 Hum, or whistle.-3 Then.-4 To it.-5 Much more. Wi' never-ceasing toil; Think ye, are we less blest than they, As hardly worth their while? Baith careless and fearless It's a' an idle tale! Then let us cheerfu' acquiesce; And even should misfortunes come, They make us see the naked truth, Tho' losses and crosses Be lessons right severe, But tent me, Davie, ace o' hearts! This life has joys for you and I; And joys that riches ne'er could buy; There's a' the pleasures o' the heart, Ye hae your Meg, your dearest part, It warms me, it charms me, It heats me, it beets1 me, 1 Adds fuel to fire. O all ye powers who rule above! Oh hear my fervent prayer; All hail, ye tender feelings dear! Long since, this world's thorny ways Fate still has blest me with a friend, And oft a more endearing band, It lightens, it brightens Oh, how that name inspires my style! The ready measure rins as fine, My spaviet1 Pegasus will limp, And then he'll hilch, and stilt," and jimp," 1 Dark, gloomy.-2 Tripping.-3 Looking.-4 Having the spavin.- Heated. — Hobble.—7 Limp, or halt.-8 Jump.-9 Go speedily. But lest then, the beast then AULD NEEBOR TO THE SAME. I'm three times doubly o'er your debtor, For my puir, silly, rhymin' clatter, Hale be your heart, hale be your fiddle; Till bairns' bairns' kindly cuddle Your auld, gray hairs. But, Davie lad, I'm redR ye 're glaikit;" Sic hauns as you sud ne'er be faikit,“ For me, I'm on Parnassus' brink, An' whyles, but ay owre late, I think 1 Shrunk, hide-bound. Braw sober lessons. 2 This is prefixed to the poems of David Sillar, published at Kilmarnock, 1789. 3 Sagacious.-4 Must serve.-5 Elbow. A sudden turning.-7 Children's children..—8 Informed. Inattentive, foolish.—10 If.—11 Should.—12 Licked, beaten.-13 Become agitated.-14 Such hands as you should ne'er be unknown.-15 Spared, or excused.-16 Sometimes stupified.-17 Women. Of a' the thoughtless sons o' man, O' rhymin' clink, The devil-haet,' that I sud ban,2 They ever think. Nae thought, nae view, nae scheme o' livin', But just the pouchie3 put the nieve in, Then, hiltie, skiltie, we gae scrievin',5 Leeze me on rhyme! it's aye a treasure, 8 At hame, a-fiel', at wark or leisure, The Muse, poor hizzie! Though rough an' raploch' be her measure, Haud" to the Muse, my dainty Davie; Na, even tho' limpin' wi' the spavie" TO MR. WILLIAM TYTLER, With a portrait of the Author. Edinburgh, 1787. REVERED defender of beauteous Stuart, Of Stuart, a name once respected, A name, which to love was the mark of a true heart, Tho' something like moisture conglobes in my eye, Dashing 1 The devil forbid.-2 Swear.-3 Pouch, or purse.-4 The hand. away.-6 Care for nothing more.-7 A phrase of endearment.-8 In the field. —9 Coarse.—10 Hold.-11 Spavin. |