343 Ye warldlings, gae hoard up your store, He ends wi' a kiss and a smile- He's free aye to daut and to kiss. Your wooers wi' fause scorn and strife, COME UNDER MY PLAIDIE COME under my plaidie, the night's gaun to fa'; 'Gae 'wa wi' your plaidie, auld Donald, gae 'wa! 'Dear Marion, let that flee stick fast to the wa'; Your Jock's but a gowk, and has naething ava; The hale o' his pack he has now on his back: He's thretty, and I am but threescore and twa. Loss. • Pet. 1 Wrap. Fool. Grandfather. Neat. • Fine Be frank now and kindly: I'll busk' ye aye finely, 'My father's aye tauld me, my mither an a', I ha'e little tocher: you've made a good offer: She crap in ayont him, aside the stane wa'. 344 SIR WILLIAM JONES [1746-1794] AN ODE In Imitation of Alcaeus WHAT Constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement or laboured mound, Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; • Dress. • Dowry. 10 Throbbed violently 19 Lost. Comfortable. 345 346 Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride. With powers as far above dull brutes endued In forest, brake, or den, As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude; But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain, And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain: And sovereign Law, that State's collected will, Sits Empress, crowning good, repressing ill. The fiend, Dissension, like a vapour sinks, Hides her faint rays, and at her bidding shrinks. Than Lesbos fairer and the Cretan shore! Shall Britons languish, and be men no more? Those sweet rewards, which decorate the brave, And steal inglorious to the silent grave. ON PARENT KNEES A NAKED NEW-BORN CHILD ON parent knees, a naked new-born child, Weeping thou sat'st while all around thee smiled: So live, that sinking to thy life's last sleep, Calm thou may'st smile, whilst all around thee weep. SUSANNA BLAMIRE [1747-1794] AND YE SHALL WALK IN SILK ATTIRE AND ye shall walk in silk attire, And siller1 hae to spare, 1 Money. 347 Gin ye'll consent to be his bride, The mind wha's every wish is pure Far dearer is to me; And ere I'm forced to break my faith, For I ha'e pledged my virgin troth His gentle manners wan my heart, And ere I'm forced to break my troth ANNE HUNTER [1742-1821] MY MOTHER BIDS ME BIND MY HAIR My mother bids me bind my hair Tie up my sleeves with ribbons rare, 'For why,' she cries, sit still and weep, While others dance and play?' Alas! I scarce can go or creep • Worse. 348 'Tis sad to think the days are gone And sigh when none can hear. And while I spin my flaxen thread, JOHN DUNLOP [1755-1820] THE YEAR THAT'S AWA' HERE'S to the year that's awa'! We will drink it in strong and in sma'; Here's to the sodger who bled, And the sailor who bravely did fa'; Their fame is alive, etc. Here's to the friends we can trust When storms of adversity blaw; May they live in our song and be nearest our hearts, May they live, etc. |