In gowany glens thy burnie strays, Where blackbirds join the shepherd's lays Thy rural loves are nature's sel'; That charm that can the strongest quell, WRITTEN ON THE BLANK LEAF OF A COPY OF HIS POEMS PRESENTED TO A LADY, WHOM HE HAD OFTEN CELEBRATED UNDER THE "TIS friendship's pledge, my young, fair friend, Nor thou the gift refuse, Nor with unwilling ear attend The moralizing muse. Since thou, in all thy youth and charms, Must bid the world adieu, (A world 'gainst peace in constant arms) Since, thy gay morn of life o'ercast, Since life's gay scenes must charm no more, Still much is left behind; Still nobler wealth hast thou in store, The comforts of the mind! Thine is the self-approving glow, The joys refin'd of sense and taste, END OF VOL. I. C. Whittingham, College House, Chiswick. In Homer's craft Jock Milton thrives; In thy sweet sang, Barbauld, survives But thee, Theocritus, wha matches? They're no herds ballats, Maro's catches: Squire Pope but busks his skinklin patches O' heathen tatters: I pass by hunders, nameless wretches, That ape their betters. In this braw age o' wit and lear, And rural grace; And wi' the fair-fam'd Grecian, share Yes! there is ane; a Scottish callan; The teeth o' Time may gnaw Tamtallan, Thou paints auld nature to the nines, Nae gowden stream thro' myrtles twines, While nightly breezes sweep the vines, Her griefs will tell! In gowany glens thy burnie strays, Where blackbirds join the shepherd's lays Thy rural loves are nature's sel'; That charm that can the strongest quell, WRITTEN ON THE BLANK LEAF OF A COPY OF HIS POEMS PRESENTED TO A LADY, WHOM HE HAD OFTEN CELEBRATED UNDER THE "Tis friendship's pledge, my young, fair friend, Nor thou the gift refuse, Nor with unwilling ear attend The moralizing muse. Since thou, in all thy youth and charms, Must bid the world adieu, (A world 'gainst peace in constant arms) Since, thy gay morn of life o'ercast, |