And drink his health in auld Nanse Tinnock's' If he some scheme, like tea and winnocks," Could he some commutation broach, Yon mixtie-maxtie queer hotch-potch, Auld Scotland has a raucle tongue; stout bludgeon Though by the neck she should be strung, And now, ye chosen Five-and-Forty, 1 A worthy old hostess of the author's in Mauchline, where he sometimes studies politics over a glass of guid auld Scotch drink. B. Nanse's story was different. On seeing the poem, she declared that the poet had never been but once or twice in her house. A portrait of Nanse was taken by Brooks in 1799, and has been engraved. 2 The young Chancellor of the Exchequer had gained some credit by a measure introduced in 1784 for preventing smuggling of tea by reducing the duty, the revenue being compen. sated by a tax on windows. Then, though a minister grow dorty, Ye'll snap your fingers poor and hearty, God bless your honours a' your days, That haunt St. Jamie's! Your humble Poet sings and prays, sulky suite jackdawi POSTSCRIPT. Let half-starved slaves in warmer skies She eyes her freeborn, martial boys What though their Phoebus kinder warms, While fragrance blooms and beauty charms! When wretches range, in famished swarms, The scented groves, Or hounded forth, dishonour arms In hungry droves. Their gun's a burden on their shouther; They downa bide the stink o' powther; cannet Their bauldest thought's a hank'ring swither To stan' or rin, uncertainty Till skelpa shot-they're aff, a'thr'owther, slap To save their skin. But bring a Scotchman frae his hill, And there's the foe, He has nae thought, but how to kill Nae cauld, faint-hearted doubtings tease him; Death comes - wi' fearless eye he sees him: Wi' bluidy han' a welcome gies him; And when he fa's, His latest draught o' breathin' lea'es him Sages their solemn een may steek, And raise a philosophic reek, And physically causes seek, In clime and season; But tell me whisky's name in Greek, Scotland, my auld, respected mither! shut mist Though whiles ye moistify your leather, sometimes Till whare ye sit, on craps o' heather crops lose Ye tine your dam; Freedom and whisky gang thegither! THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE, ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIPP OF CORN, TO HANSEL IN THE NEW YEAR. To the early part of 1786 may be referred a poem which seems to have attracted less attention than most others of the same degree of effort, but which, we think, presents a most pleasing strain of that benevolent feeling which Burns entertained towards the humbler animals. He here assumes a fictitious character that of an old farmer. A GUID New-year I wish thee, Maggie! I've seen the day. Thou could hae gaen like ony staggie Out-owre the lay. bony colt Though now thou's dowie, stiff, and crazy, drooping And thy auld hide's as white's a daisy, A bonny gray: He should been tight that daur't to raize thee Ance in a day. Thou ance was i' the foremost rank, excite A filly buirdly, steeve, and swank, stout-firm-stately And could hae flown out-owre a stank ground morass It's now some nine-and-twenty year, dowry And fifty mark; Though it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear, When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, But hamely, tawie,' quiet, and cannie, That day ye pranced wi' muckle pride, strong mother mischievous 1 That allows itself peaceably to be handled. engaging |