ET. 38.] AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG. 209 Broken trade o' Broughton, A' in high repair. Frae the banks o' Dee; Wha wants troggin Let him come to me! There's a noble earl's Fame and high renown,1 For an auld sang It's thought the guids were stown. stolen Here's the worth o' Broughton,2 In a needle's e'e; Here's a reputation Tint by Balmaghie. Buy braw troggin, etc. lost choice mortgage 1 The Earl of Galloway. 2 Mr. Murray, of Broughton. 8 Gordon, of Balmaghie. 4 Gordon, of Cardoness. 5 Rev. George Maxwell, minister of Buittle. Here's the font where Douglas 1. A bitter allusion to Mr. Bushby. buzzard-kite toad 2 This appears to have been retaliation for an epigram launched by the Rev. Mr. Muirhead against Burns after the election of last year. 8 Walter Sloan Lawrie, of Redcastle. ET. 38.] AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG. 211 Lately used at C[aily] Christening Murray's] crimes. Here's the worth and wisdom By a thievish midge They had been nearly lost. Here is Murray's fragments To get them aff his hands. Saw ye e'er sic troggin? Frae the banks o' Dee; Wha wants troggin Let him come to me! 1 Copland, of Collieston. gna. The Devil 212 VERSES ON MISS LEWARS. [1796. EPIGRAMS ON MISS LEWARS. "The sense of his poverty, and of Dr. Currie says, the approaching distress of his infant family, pressed heavily on Burns as he lay on the bed of death; yet he alluded to his indigence, at times, with something ap'What business,' said proaching to his wonted gayety. he to Dr. Maxwell, who attended him with the utmost zeal, 'has a physician to waste his time on me? I am a poor pigeon not worth plucking. Alas! I have not feathers enough upon me to carry me to my grave.' In even a gayer spirit, he would sometimes scribble verses of compliment to sweet young Jessy Lewars, as she tripped about on her missions of gentle charity from hall to kitchen and from kitchen to hall. His surgeon, Mr. Brown, one day brought in a long sheet, containing the particulars of a menagerie of wild beasts which he had just been visiting. As Mr. Brown was handing the sheet to Miss Lewars, Burns seized it, and wrote upon it a couple of verses with red chalk; after which he handed it to Miss Lewars, saying that it was now fit to be presented to a lady. TALK not to me of savages From Afric's burning sun; No savage e'er could rend my heart, ET. 38.] VERSES ON MISS LEWARS. But Jessy's lovely hand in mine, Not even to view the heavenly choir 213 On another occasion, while Miss Lewars was waiting upon him in his sick-chamber, he took up a crystal goblet containing wine and water, and after writing upon it the following verses, in the character of a Toast, presented it to her. Give the poet's darling flame, At this time of trouble, on Miss Lewars complaining of indisposition, he said, to provide for the worst, he would write her epitaph. He accordingly inscribed the following on another goblet, saying, "That will be a companion to the Toast." Say, sages, what's the charm on earth Can turn Death's dart aside? It is not purity and worth, – Else Jessy had not died. On Miss Lewars recovering a little, the poet said |