YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS Think on the dungeon's grim confine, I heard nae mair, for Chanticleer And hail'd the morning with a cheer, But deep this truth impress'd my mind- The heart benevolent and kind The most resembles God. Song-Yon Wild Mossy Mountains.' YON wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide, Where the grouse lead their coveys thro' the heather to feed, Not Gowrie's rich valley, nor Forth's sunny shores, Amang thae wild mountains shall still be my path, While o'er us unheeded flie the swift hours o' love. 1 The lassie may have supplied an to Edinburgh, where he arrived on amour de voyage, on Burns's journey November 28th, 1786. ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH She is not the fairest, altho' she is fair; To Beauty what man but maun yield him a prize, But kindness, sweet kindness, in the fond-sparkling e'e, Address to Edinburgh.1 EDINA! Scotia's darling seat! And singing, lone, the lingering hours, Here Wealth still swells the golden tide, Bids elegance and splendour rise: 1 This contains an early allusion to Burns's belief, or dream, that his ancestors had "haply" been out for the Stuarts. Or he may refer to times yet earlier than 1688. "Burnet" was a daughter of Lord Monboddo. ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH Thy sons, Edina, social, kind, Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn, There, watching high the least alarms, And mark'd with many a seamy scar: Have oft withstood assailing war, With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears, Their hapless race wild-wand'ring roam! Wild beats my heart to trace your steps, Thro' hostile ranks and ruin'd gaps ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS Ev'n I who sing in rustic lore, Edina! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow'rs; Address to a Haggis.1 FAIR fa' your honest, sonsie face, Painch, tripe, or thairm°: Weel are ye wordyd o' a grace e As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin, rich! • gut. d worthy. fused to fasten the opening in the bag. • plump. b paunch. ⚫ haunches. 1 Printed in The Caledonian Mercury, Dec. 20, 1786. ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, Is there that owre his French ragout • horn-spoon. d nauseate. Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him owre his trash, Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, He'll mak it whissle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,1 Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, That jaups in luggies1; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer Gie her a haggis !1 b well-swollen stomachs, ⚫ disgust. his fist a nut. h powerful. k splashes. 3 thin. 1 In the Caledonian Mercury this verse reads: Ye Powers wha gie us a' that's gude, • shortly. f feeble. i slice off. 1 wooden dishes with handles. Wi' great John Barleycorn's heart's blude In stoups and luggies; And on our board that King of food, A glorious Haggis ! |