I am, dear Sir, with zeal most fervent, But if (which Pow'rs above prevent!) By sad mistakes, and black mischances, Your humble servant then no more; TO A LOUSE. ON SEEING ONE ON A LADY'S BONNET AT CHURCH. HA! whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie! Owre gauze and lace; On sic a place. Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner, Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner, How dare ye set your fit upon her, Sae fine a lady! Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner Swith, in some beggar's haffet squattle; There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle Wi' ither kindred, jumpin cattle, In shoals and nations; Whare horn or bane ne'er dare unsettle Your thick plantations. Now baud ye there, ye're out o' sight, Below the fatt'rils, snug an' tight; Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right Till ye've got on it, The vera tapmost, tow'ring height O' Miss's bonnet. My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out, As plump and gray as onie grozet; O for some rank mercurial rozet, Or fell, red smeddum, I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't, Wad dress your droddum! I wad na been surpris'd to spy You on an auld wife's flainen toy; Or aiblins some bit duddie boy, On 's wyliecoat; But Miss's fine Lunardi! fie, How dare ye do't! O Jenny, dinna toss your head, An' set your beauties a' abread! Ye little ken what cursed speed The blastie's makin! Thae winks and finger-ends, I dread, O wad some pow'r the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us And foolish notion: What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us, And ev'n Devotion! ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH. I. EDINA! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow'rs, Where once beneath a monarch's feet Sat legislation's sov'reign pow'rs! From marking wildly-scatter'd flow'rs, As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd, And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours, I shelter'd in thy honour'd shade. II. Here wealth still swells the golden tide, Here justice, from her native skies, III. Thy Sons, Edina, social, kind, With open arms the stranger hail; Their views enlarg'd, their lib'ral mind, Above the narrow, rural vale; Attentive still to sorrow's wail, Or modest merit's silent claim; And never may their sources fail! And never envy blot their name! IV. Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn! Heav'n's beauties on my fancy shine; I see the sire of love on high, And own his work indeed divine! V. There, watching high the least alarms, Thy rough rude fortress gleams afar; Like some bold vet'ran, grey in arms, And mark'd with many a seamy scar: The pond'rous wall and massy bar, Grim-rising o'er the rugged rock; Have oft withstood assailing war, And oft repell'd the' invader's shock. VI. With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears, VII. Wild beats my heart to trace your steps, VIII. Edina! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow'rs, Where once beneath a monarch's feet Sat legislation's sov'reign pow'rs! From marking wildly-scatter'd flow'rs, As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd, And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours, I shelter'd in thy honour'd shade. |