The wounded coveys, reeling, scatter wide; The feathered field-mates, bound by Nature's tie, Sires, mothers, children, in one carnage lie; While thick the gossamour waves wanton in the rays. 'Twas in that season, when a simple Bard, Or whether, rapt in meditation high, He wandered out he knew not where or why.) 1 A noted tavern at the Auld Brig end. B. - 2 In a MS. copy, here occur two lines omitted in print: "Or penitential pangs for former sins Led him to rove by quondam Merran Din's." The drowsy Dungeon-clock 1 had numbered two, And Wallace Tower2 had sworn the fact was true; The tide-swoln Firth, with sullen sounding roar, Through the still night dashed hoarse along the shore. All else was hushed as Nature's closed e'e; stream; When lo! on either hand the listening Bard, The clanging sugh of whistling wings is rustle heard ; Two dusky forms dart through the midnight air, Swift as the gos 3 drives on the wheeling hare. 8 Ane on the Auld Brig his airy shape uprears, 1 A clock in a steeple connected with the old jail of Ayr. This steeple and its clock were removed some years ago. 2 The clock in the Wallace Tower —an anomalous piece of antique masonry, surmounted by a spire, which stood in the High Street of Ayr. It was removed some years ago, and replaced by a more elegant tower, which bears its name. 3 The gos-hawk, or falcon. — B. And even the very deils they brawly ken well know them.) Auld Brig appeared of ancient Pictish race, He seemed as he wi' Time had warstl'd wrestled lang, Yet, teughly doure, he bade toughly stout — endured an unco bang. a severe stroke New Brig was buskit in a braw new coat dressed That he at Lon'on, frae ane Adams, got; Spying the time-worn flaws in every arch; AULD BRIG. I doubt na, frien' ye'll think ye're nae sheep shank, small affair Ance ye were streekit o'er frae bank to stretched bank, But gin ye be a brig as auld as me if Though, faith, that day I doubt ye'll never see — There'll be, if that date come, I'll wad a boddle, bet a doit Some fewer whigmaleeries in your noddle. crotchets 1 Rings and useless ornaments. NEW BRIG. Auld Vandal, ye but shew your little mense, civility Just much about it wi' your scanty sense. meet Your ruined, formless bulk o' stane and lime, Compare wi' bonny brigs o' modern time? There's men o' taste would tak the Ducat Stream,1 Though they should cast the very sark and swim, shirt Ere they would grate their feelings wi' the view Of sic an ugly Gothic hulk as you. As yet ye little ken about the matter, 1 A noted ford just above the Auld Brig. — B. When from the hills where springs the brawling Coil, Or stately Lugar's mossy fountains boil, Or where the Greenock winds his moorland course, Or haunted Garpal1 draws his feeble source, Aroused by blustering winds and spotting thowes, thaws In monie a torrent down his snaw-broo rowes; 2 While crashing ice, borne on the roaring speat, flood Sweeps dams, and mills, and brigs, a' to the 8 way gate; And from Glenbuck down to the Ratton-key' Auld Ayr is just one lengthened tumbling sea Then down ye'll hurl, deil nor ye never rise! And dash the gumlie jaups up to the muddy waves pouring skies: A lesson sadly teaching, to your cost, That Architecture's noble art is lost! NEW BRIG. Fine Architecture, trowth, I needs must say't o't! 1 The banks of Garpal Water is one of the few places in the west of Scotland where those fancy-scaring beings, known by the name of ghaists, still continue pertinaciously to inhabit.-B. 2 (Snow-broth) melting snow-rolls. 8 The source of the river Ayr. — B. * A small landing-place above the large key. — B. |