On the lofty ether borne, SONNET Written January 25, 1793, the Birth-day of the Author, SING on, sweet thrush, upon the leafless bough; Sits meek Content with light, unanxious heart, Welcomes the rapid moments, bids them part, Nor asks if they bring aught to hope or fear. I thank thee, Author of this op'ning day! [skies! Thou whose bright sun now gilds yon orient Riches denied, thy boon was purer joys, What wealth could never give nor take away! Yet come, thou child of Poverty and Care; The mite high Heav'n bestow'd, that mite with thee I'll share. VERSES On seeing a wounded Hare limp by me, which a fellow INHUMAN man! curse on thy barb'rous art, No more the thick'ning brakes and verdant plains To thee shall home, or food, or pastime yield. Seek, mangled wretch, some place of wonted rest- The sober eve, or hail the cheerful dawn, fate. THE AULD FARMER'S New-Year Morning Salutation to his Auld Mare Maggie, A GUID new year, I wish thee, Maggie! Thou could hae gaen like onie staggie" Tho' now thou 's dowie, stiff, an' crazy, He should been tight that daur't to raise thee, Thou ance was i' the foremost rank, An' could hae flown out-owre a stank,d q A handful of unthreshed corn. Sunk in the back. "Diminutive of stag. r Belly. Like knaggs, or points of rocks. w Worn with fatigue. x Smooth like glass. y To inflame, or madden. z Stout made. c Earth. a Firm, compacted. Stately. d A pool of standing water. It's now some nine-an'-twenty year, Tho' it was sma', 'twas weel won gear, When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, That day ye danc'd wi' muckle pride, Kyle Stewart' I could bragged" wide, Tho' now ye down but hoyte and hobble, For heels an' win'! An' ran them till they a' did wauble, When thou an' I were young an' skeigh, How thou wad prance, an' snore, an' skreigh," Town's bodies ran and stood abeigh, And ca't thee mad. e A marriage portion. f Stout. g Mother, dam. A Unlucky. i Peaceable to be handled. k Good-looking. A district in Aberdeenshire. o Amble crazily. m Challenged. That turns quickly. ↑ To reel. n Can. Proud, high-mettled. u To scream. * At a shy distance. When thou was corn't,y an' I was mellow, But ev'ry tail thou paid them hollow, The sma', droop-rumpl't,a hunter-cattle, Thou was a noble fittie-lan',h As e'er in tug or towi was drawn ! Hae turn'd saxm rood beside our han' Thou never braindg't," an' fecht," an' fliskit,P Till spritty knowes wad rair't and risket, When frosts lay lang an' snaws were deep, I gied thy cog" a wee bit heap y Well fed with oats. z A race at country weddings, who shall first reach the bride groom's house on returning from church. a That droops at the crupper. b Perhaps. d A short race. e Made them wheeze. g Willow. h The near-horse of the hindmost pair in the plough. k Eight. Going. Reeled forward. o Fought. p Fretted. c Worsted. fA twig. m Six. q The breast. Fell. i Rope. Aboon the timmer;" I kenn'd my Maggie wad na sleep In cart or car thou never reestit ; But just thy step a wee thing hastit,d My pleugh is now thy bairn-time a';f That thou hast nurst: Monie a sair dargi we twa hae wrought, Yet here to crazy age we 're brought An' think na', my auld trusty servan', A heapet stimpart,m I'll reserve ane We've worn to crazy years thegither; d Hastened. * Summer. 2 Steepest hill. Sprung up, or forward. e Went smoothly. All the team belonging to my plough are of thy brood. g Besides six more which I have sold. h Thirteen pounds and two-perhaps fifteen pounds is here meant, as the Poet praises the goodness of Maggie's stock. i Day's labour. k My last drinking bout. ! Heaped. The eighth part of a bushel. n Totter. |