But cheerful still, I am as well as a monarch in a palace, O Tho' fortune's frown still hunts me down, with all her wonted malice; O I make indeed my daily bread, but ne'er can make it farther; O But as daily bread is all I need, I do not much regard her, O. When sometimes by my labor I earn a little money, O Some unforeseen misfortune comes gen'rally upon me; 0 Mischance, mistake, or by neglect, or my good-natur'd folly; O But come what will, I've sworn it still, I'll ne'er be melancholy, O. All you who follow wealth and power, with unremitting ardor, O The more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther; O Had you the wealth Potosi boasts, or nations to adore you, O A cheerful honest-hearted clown I will prefer before you, O. THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE, MAGGIE, ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIPP OF CORN TO HANSEL IN THE NEW YEAR A GUID New-Year I wish thee, Maggie! Thou could hae gone like ony staggie Tho' now thou's dowie, stiff, an' crazy, He should been tight that daur't to raize thee, Thou ance was i' the foremost rank, An' could hae flown out-owre a stank, It's now some nine-an'-twenty year, Tho' it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear, When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, But hamely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie, That day, ye pranc'd wi' muckle pride, Kyle-Stewart I could bragged wide, Tho' now ye dow but hoyte and hoble An' wintle like a saumont-coble, That day ye was a jinker noble An' ran them till they a' did wauble, When thou an' I were young and skeigh, Town's-bodies ran, and stood abeigh, An' ca't thee mad. When thou was corn't, an' I was mellow, But ev'ry tail thou pay't them hollow, The sma', droop-rumpl't, hunter cattle, O' saugh or hazel. Thou was a noble fittie-lan', As e'er in tug or tow was drawn! Hae turn'd sax rood beside our han', Thou never braindg't, an' fetch't, an' fliskit, Till spritty knowes wad rair't and riskit, When frosts lay lang, an' snaws were deep, An' threaten'd labor back to keep, I gied thy cog a wee-bit heap Aboon the timmer; I ken'd my Maggie wad na sleep In cart or car thou never reestit; |