A VISION.

A favorite walk of Burns during his residence in Dumfries, was one along the right bank of the river above the town, terminating at the ruins of Lincluden Abbey and Church, which occupy a romantic situation on a piece of rising-ground in the angle at the junction of the Cluden Water with the Nith. These ruins include many fine fragments of ancient decorative architecture, and are enshrined in a natural scene of the utmost beauty. Burns, according to his eldest son, often mused amidst the Lincluden ruins. There is one position on a little mount, to the south of the Church, where a couple of landscapes of witching loveliness are obtained, set, as it were, in two of the windows of the ancient building. It was probably the “ Calvary" of the ancient church precinct. This the younger Burns remembers to have been a favorite resting-place of the poet.

Such is the locality of the grand and thrilling ode, entitled A Vision, in which he hints-for more than a hint could not be ventured upon his sense of the degradation of the ancient manly spirit of his country under the conservative terrors of the pass ing era.

As I stood by yon roofless tower,

Where the wa'-flower scents the dewy air,

Where th' howlet mourns in her ivy bower,
And tells the midnight moon her care;

The winds were laid, the air was still,
The stars they shot alang toe sky;
The fox was howling on the hill,
And the distant echoing glens reply.

The stream, adown its hazelly path,
Was rushing by the ruined wa's,
Hasting to join the sweeping Nith,

1

Whose distant roaring swells and fa's.

The cauld blue North was streaming forth
Her lights, wi' hissing eerie din ;

Athort the lift they start and shift,

awe-inspiring

athwart

Like Fortune's favours, tint as win. lost as won

By heedless chance I turned mine eyes,
And, by the moonbeam, shook to see
A stern and stalwart ghaist arise,
Attired as minstrels wont to be.2

1 Variation

To join yon river on the Strath.

2 Variation

Now looking over firth and fauld,

Her horn the pale-faced Cynthia reared;

When, lo! in form of minstrel auld,

A stern and stalwart ghaist appeared.

Had I a statue been o' stane,

His darin' look had daunted me; And on his bonnet graved was plain, The sacred posy - "Libertie!"

And frae his harp sic strains did flow, Might roused the slumb'ring dead to hear; But oh! it was a tale of wo,

As ever met a Briton's ear.

He sang wi' joy the former day,

He weeping wailed his latter times;
But what he said it was nae play -
I winna ventur't in my rhymes.

OUT OVER THE FORTH.

TUNE Charlie Gordon's welcome hame.

OUT over the Forth I look to the north, But what is the north and its Highlands to me?

The south nor the east gie ease to my breast,

The far foreign land, or the wild rolling sea.

But I look to the west, when I gae to rest, That happy my dreams and my slumbers may be;

For far in the west lives he I lo'e best,

The lad that is dear to my babie and me.

LOUIS, WHAT RECK I BY THEE?

UNE- Louis, what reck I by thee?

LOUIS, what reck I by thee,
Or Geordie on his ocean?
Dyvor, beggar loons to me,

I reign in Jeanie's bosom!

Let her crown my love her law,
And in her breast enthrone me-

Kings and nations, swith, awa'!

Reif randies, I disown ye!

Bankrupt

quick

Thief-beggars.

"The whole of this song was written by Burns, except the third and fourth lines of stanza first, which are taken from Ramsay's song to the same tune." STENHOUSE.

My heart is sair I dare na tell

My heart is sair for somebody;

I could wake a winter night
For the sake of somebody.
Oh-hon for somebody!
Oh-hey for somebody!

I could range the world around,
For the sake o' somebody!

Ye powers that smile on virtuous love,
O sweetly smile on somebody!
Frae ilka danger keep him free,
And send me safe my somebody!
Oh-hon for somebody!

Oh-hey! for somebody!

I wad do - what wad I not?

For the sake o' somebody!