Oh, when she blesses next your shade, In fresher mazes o'er the green; Ye gentle spirits of the vale, To whom the tears of love are dear, And sigh my sorrows in her ear! Not her own guardian-angel eyes Not purer her own wishes rise, Not holier her own thoughts in prayer. Should start at love's suspected name, True love and friendship are the same. This tender and elegant lyric was written by James Thomson-every body's James Thomson-the author of the Seasons. He shines less in song than in loftier compositions-his verses are fine and polished, but they want the ready, native, and original grace of language which is so peculiar to Scottish song. THE SPINNING-WHEEL. As I sat at my spinning-wheel, I view'd him round, and lik'd him weel, My heart new panting 'gan to feel, With looks all kindness he drew near, My milk-white hands he did extol, And prais'd my fingers lang and small, And said, there was nae lady fair That ever could with me compare. These words into my heart did steal, But still I turn'd my spinning-wheel. Altho' I seemingly did chide, But still declar'd his love the mair, Until my heart was wounded sair: That I my love could scarce conceal, My hanks of yarn, my rock and reel, My yielding heart strange flames did feel, About my neck his arm he laid, And whisper'd, Rise, my bonny maid, Amang the pleasant cocks of hay, This old free song is from Ramsay's collection-and if love triumphs over household rule and domestic industry, the success is very natural and very common. MY MITHER'S AY GLOWRIN O'ER ME. My mither's ay glowrin o'er me, To look at my love, Or else she'll be like to devour me. Right fain wad I tak ye'r offer, Sweet sir-but I'll tine my tocher; And wyte ye'r poor Kate, For though my father has plenty To twin wi' his gear And sae we had need to be tenty. Tutor my parents wi' caution, Be wylie in ilka motion; Brag weel o' ye'r land, And there's my leal hand Win them, I'll be at your devotion. This song is a felicitous and natural expression of every-day feeling; but it lacks that luxuriant warmth of fancy that sheds a poetic glow over the young laird's address. The maiden is too prosaic: she looks as if she had chanted her answer while under the chilling influence of her " Mither's glowre." Ramsay, indeed, does not often give us that pure extract of the heart which old Daniel mentions as constituting the very soul of poesy; for he writes not so much from the overflowings of a wayward and sprightly fancy as from the treasured riches of a retentive memory, and an acute observation of his fellow men and of social manners: he is, in short, the poet of mind rather than of nature, and delineates always with a correct and lively, and sometimes with a satiric and humorous pen, the thoughts, and feelings, and conceptions which are peculiar to youthful and amorous spirits. CAKES O' CROUDY. Clunie the deddy, and Rethy the monkey, Deddy on politics dings all the nation, As well as Lord Huffie does for his discretion; And Crawford comes next with his Archie of Levy, VOL. III. N |