But lest he learn the callan tricks,

As, faith, I muckle doubt him,

boy

Like scrapin' out auld Crummie's nicks, (on cow's horn)

And tellin' lies about them;

As lieve then, I'd have then,

If sae be ye may be

Your clerkship he should sair,

Nor fitted other where.

Although I say't, he's gleg enough,

And 'bout a house that's rude and rough,

The boy might learn to swear;

But then wi' you he'll be sae taught,

And get sic fair example straught,
I havena ony fear

Ye'll catechise him every quirk,

AND WHEN YE HEAR THE BELL,
YE'LL gar him follow to the kirk-
-Aye when ye gang yoursel.
If ye, then, maun be, then,
Frae hame this comin' Friday;
Then please sir, to lea'e, sir,
The orders wi' your leddy.

My word of honour 1 hae gi'en,

In Paisley John's, that night at e'en,
To meet the warld's worm ;*

To try to get the twa to gree,
And name the airles and the fee,
In legal mode and form:
I ken he weel a sneck can draw,
When simple bodies let him.

content

serve SO

elsewhere

sharp

straight have not any

from home

lady

given

agree

earnest money

know, is crafty

May 1786.

long have

no

go

song

full

Ye'll find mankind an unco squad,
And muckle they may grieve ye :
For care and trouble set your thought,
Even when your end's attained;
And a' your views may come to nought,
Where every nerve is strained.

I'll no say men are villains a' ;
The real, hardened wicked,

Wha hae nae check but human law,

Are to a few restricked;

But, och! mankind are unco weak,

strange

who

very

And little to be trusted;

If self the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted!

Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife,
Their fate we should na censure,
For still th' important end of life

They equally may answer;
A man may hae an honest heart,
Though poortith hourly stare him ;
A man may tak a neibor's part,

Yet hae nae cash to spare him.

Aye free, aff han' your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony ;
But still keep something to yoursel
Ye scarcely tell to ony.

fall

not

have

poverty

neighbour's

always, off hand companion

any

Conceal yoursel as weel's ye can

Frae critical dissection,

But keek through every other man,

look

Wi sharpened, sly inspection.

Its slightest touches, instant pause―
Debar a' side pretences;
And resolutely keep its laws,
Uncaring consequences.

The great Creator to revere

Must sure become the creature ;
But still the preaching cant forbear,
And even the rigid feature:
Yet ne'er with wits profane to range,
Be complaisance extended

An Athiest laugh's a poor exchange
For Deity offended!

When ranting round in pleasure's ring,
Religion may be blinded;

Or if she gi'e a random sting,
It may be little minded;

But when on life we're tempest driven,
A conscience but a canker,

A correspondence fixed wi' Heaven,
Is sure a noble anchor!

Adieu, dear, amiable youth!

Your heart can ne'er be wanting!

May prudence, fortitude, and truth,

Erect your brow undaunting!

In ploughman phrase," God send you speed,"

Still daily to grow wiser:

And may you better reck the rede

Than ever did th' adviser!

give

heed, counsel

A DREAM.

"Thoughts, words, and deeds, the statute blames with reason:
But surely dreams were ne'er indicted treason."

On reading, in the public papers, the "Laureate's Ode," with the other parade of June 4, 1786, the author was no sooner dropt asleep, than he imagined himself transported to the birthday levee; and in his dreaming fancy made the following Address: "

GUID-MORNIN' to your Majesty !

May Heaven augment your blesses,
On every new birthday, ye see,
A humble poet wishes!

Your kingship to bespatter;

There's mony waur been o' the race,

And aiblins ane been better

Than you this day.

"Tis very true, my sovereign king,

My skill may weel be doubted:

would make

will not

no

worse

perhaps one

well

But facts are chiels that winna ding, fellows, be beaten And downa be disputed:

Is e'en right reft and clouted,

cannot

Your royal nest, beneath your wing,

broken, patched (American colonies)

go

one

from

And now the third part of the string,
And less, will gang about it
Than did ae day.

Far be't frae me that I aspire
To blame your legislation,
Or say ye wisdom want, or fire,
To rule this mighty nation!

But faith! I muckle doubt, my sire,

Ye've trusted ministration

To chaps, wha, in a barn or byre,

Wad better filled their station

Than courts yon day.

much

who

would have

given old

sore

behoved field

good fellow's child

asperses

navy

Adieu, my liege! may Freedom geck
Beneath your high protection;
And may you rax Corruption's neck,
And gie her for dissection.
But since I'm here, I'll no neglect,
In loyal, true affection,

To pay your Queen, with due respect,
My fealty and subjection

This great birthday.

Hail Majesty Most Excellent!

While nobles strive to please ye,

Will ye accept a compliment

A simple poet gies ye?

sport

stretch

give

Thae bonnie bairn-time, Heaven has lent, those children

Still higher may they heeze ye

In bliss, till fate some day is sent,

raise

For ever to release ye

Frae care that day!

For you, young potentate o' Wales,

from

I tell your Highness fairly,

Down pleasure's stream, wi' swelling sails,

I'm tauld ye're driving rarely;

But some day ye may gnaw your nails,

And curse your folly sairly,

That e'er ye brak Diana's pales,

Or rattled dice wi' Charlie,

By night or day.

told

sorely

oft, colt

cart-horse

soberly

talk

wag

many

(Duke of York)

none

ear

would

proud

quick

Ye, lastly, bonnie blossoms a';

Ye royal lasses dainty,

Heaven mak ye guid as weel as braw,

And gie you lads a-plenty :

But sneer na British boys awa',

For kings are unco scant aye;

good

not

very