GENIUS.

Maist welcome, Pow'r that cheers the vital streams,
When Pallas guards thee frae the wild extremes;
Thy rosy visage at these solemn rites,

My generous charge with open smiling greets.

BACCHUS.

I'm nae great dab at speeches that maun clink,
But there's my paw, I shall fou tightly drink
A hearty health to thir same lovely twa,
That are sae meikle dauted by you a'.

Then with my juice a reaming bicker crown;
I'll gi'e a toast, and see it fairly round.

Enter GANYMEDE

[With a flaggon in one hand, and a glass in the other.]

To you blyth beings, the benign director

Of gods and men, to keep your sauls in tift,
Has sent you here a present of his nectar,
As good as e'er was brew'n aboon the lift.

BACCHUS.

Ha! Gany, come, my dainty boy,

Skink't up, and let us prieve;

Without it life wad be a toy :

Here, gi'e me't in my nieve.

Good health to Hamilton, and his

[Takes the glass.]

Lov'd mate!-O, father Jove! we crave
Thou❜lt grant them a lang tack of bliss,

And rowth of bonny bairns and brave.
Pour on them, frae thy endless store,
A' benisons that are divine,

With as good will as I waught o'er

This flowing glass of heav'nly wine.

[Drinks, and causes all the company to drink round.]

Come, see't about; and syne let's all advance,
Mortals and gods be pairs, and tak a dance.
Minerva mim, for a' your mortal stoor,
Ye shall with billy Bacchus fit the floor;
Play up there, lassie, some blyth Scotish tune,
Syne a' be blyth, when wine and wit gae round.

[The health about, music and dancing begin. -The dancing over, before her Grace retires with the ladies to be undressed, CALLIOPE sings the]

EPITHALAMIUM.

Bright is the low of lawfu' love,
Which shining sauls impart,
It to perfection mounts above,
And glows about the heart.
It is the flame gives lasting worth,
To greatness, beauty, wealth, and birth.
On you, illustrious youthfu' pair,
Who are high heaven's delight and care,
The blissfu' beam darts warm and fair,
And shall improve the rest

Of a' these gifts baith great and rare
Of which ye are possest.

Bacchus, bear off your dinsome gang,

Hark! frae yon howms the rural thrang

Invite you now away;

While ilka hynd,

And maiden kind,
Dance in a ring,
While shepherds sing

In honour of the day.

Gae drink and dance

'Till morn advance,

And set the twinkling fires;

While we prepare

To lead the fair

And brave to their desires.

D

Gae, Loves and Graces, take your place,
Around the nuptial bed abide;
Fair Venus heighten each embrace,
And smoothly make their minutes slide.
Gae, Hymen, put the couch in case;
Minerva, thither lead the Bride;
Neist, all attend his youthfu' Grace,
And lay him sweetly by her side.

VI.

A PASTORAL EPITHALAMIUM

UPON THE HAPPY MARRIAGE OF GEORGE LORD RAMSAY AND LADY JEAN MAULE.

HAIL to the brave apparent chief,

Boast of the Ramsay's clanish name,

Whase ancestors stood the relief
Of Scotland, ages known to fame.

Hail to the lovely she, whose charms,
Complete in graces, meet his love;
Adorn'd with all that greatness warms,
And makes him grateful bow to Jove.

Both from the line of patriots rise,
Chiefs of Dalhousie and Panmure,
Whose loyal fames shall stains despise,
While ocean flows, and orbs endure.

The Ramsays! Caledonia's prop;

The Maules! struck still her foes with dread;

Now join'd, we from the union hope

A race of heroes shall succeed.

Let meaner souls transgress the rules,
That's fix'd by honour, love, and truth;
While little views proclaim them fools,
Unworthy beauty, sense, and youth:

Whilst you, blest pair, belov'd by all
The powers above, and blest below,
Shall have delights attend your call,
And lasting pleasures on you flow.

What fate has fix'd, and love has done,
The guardians of mankind approve.
Well may they finish what's begun,
And from your joys all cares remove.

We wish'd-when straight a heavenly voice
Inspir'd-we heard the blue-ey'd maid
Cry, "Who dare quarrel with the choice?
The choice is mine, be mine their aid."

Be thine their aid, O wisest power!
And soon again we hope to see

Their plains return, splendid their tower,
And blossom broad the Edgewell tree.*

Whilst he with manly merits stor'd,
Shall rise, the glory of his clan ;
She for celestial sweets ador'd,
Shall ever charm the gracefu' man.

Soon may their royal bird † extend
His sable plumes, and lordships claim,
Which to his valiant sires pertain❜d,

Ere earls in Albion were a name.

See note, vol. i. p. 239.

The spread eagle sable, or a field argent, in the arms of the Earl of Dalhousie.

Ye parents of the happy pair,

With gen'rous smiles consenting, own
That they deserve your kindest care;

Thus, with the gods, their pleasure crown.

Haste, ev'ry Grace, each Love, and Smile,
From fragrant Cyprus spread the wing;
To deck their couch, exhaust your isle
Of all the beauties of the spring.

On them attend with homage due,
In him are Mars and Phoebus seen;
And in the noble nymph you'll view
sage Minerva and your Queen.

The

VII.

BETTY AND KATE:

A PASTORAL FAREWELL TO MR. AIKMAN, WHEN HE WENT FOR LONDON.

BETTY.

DEAR Katie, Willy's e'en away !

Willy, of herds the wale,

To feed his flock, and make his hay
Upon a distant dale.

Far to the southward of this height
Where now we dowie stray,

Ay heartsome when he cheer'd our sight,
And leugh with us a' day.

KATE.

O Willy! can dale dainties please

Thee mair than moorland ream?

Does Isis flow with sweeter ease

Than Fortha's gentle stream?