FAREWELL TO THE BANKS OF AYR

FAREWELL TO THE BANKS OF AYR

THE gloomy night is gath'ring fast,
Loud roars the wild, inconstant blast,
Yon murky cloud is foul with rain,
I see it driving o'er the plain;
The hunter now has left the moor,
The scatt'red coveys meet secure;
While here I wander, prest with care,
Along the lonely banks of Ayr.

The Autumn mourns her rip'ning corn
By early Winter's ravage torn;
Across her placid, azure sky,
She sees the scowling tempest fly:
Chill runs my blood to hear it rave;
I think upon the stormy wave,
Where many a danger I must dare,
Far from the bonie banks of Ayr.

'Tis not the surging billow's roar,
'Tis not that fatal, deadly shore;
Tho' death in ev'ry shape appear,
The wretched have no more to fear:

But round my heart the ties are bound,
The heart transpierc'd with many a wound;
These bleed afresh, those ties I tear,
To leave the bonie banks of Ayr.

Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales,1
Her heathy moors and winding vales;
The scenes where wretched Fancy roves,
Pursuing past, unhappy loves!

Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes!
My peace with these, my love with those:
The bursting tears my heart declare-
Farewell, the bonie banks of Ayr!

1 Kyle was named after King Coil who was buried near Montgomery Castle, which is sometimes called Coilsfield House.

THE BANKS O' DOON

THE BANKS O' DOON

YE banks and braes o' bonie Doon,

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? How can ye chant, ye little birds,

And I sae weary fu' o' care?

Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird, That wantons thro' the flowering thorn: Thou minds me o' departed joys,

Departed never to return.

Aft hae I rov'd by bonie Doon,

To see the rose and woodbine twine;

And ilka bird sang o' its Luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine;
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
And my fause Luver staw my rose,
But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

THE FAREWELL1

TO THE BRETHREN OF ST. JAMES'S LODGE, TARBOLTON

ADIEU! a heart-warm, fond adieu;
Dear brothers of the mystic tye!
Ye favoured, ye enlighten'd few,
Companions of my social joy;
Tho' I to foreign lands must hie,
Pursuing Fortune's slidd'ry ba';
With melting heart, and brimful eye,
I'll mind you still, tho' far awa'.

Oft have I met your social band,

And spent the cheerful, festive night:
Oft, honour'd with supreme command,
Presided o'er the sons of light:
And by that hieroglyphic bright,

Which none but Craftsmen ever saw!

Strong Mem'ry on my heart shall write

Those happy scenes, when far awa'

May Freedom, Harmony, and Love,
Unite you in the grand Design,
Beneath th' Omniscient Eye above-

The glorious Architect Divine,

Written when he expected to sail to Jamaica.

THE FAREWELL

That you may keep th' unerring line,
Still rising by the plummet's law,
Till Order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray'r when far awa'.

And you, farewell! whose merits claim
Justly that highest badge to wear:
Heav'n bless your honour'd, noble name,
To Masonry and Scotia dear!
A last request permit me here—
When yearly ye assemble a',
One round, I ask it with a tear,
To him, the Bard that's far awa'.