Twa travellers, as they were walking,
'Bout the cameleon fell a-talking
(Sic think it shaws them mettl❜d men,
To say I've seen, and ought to ken);
Says ane," "Tis a strange beast indeed,
Four-footed, wi' a fish's head;
A little bowk, wi' a lang tail,

And moves far slawer than a snail;
O' colour, like a blawart blue."
Replied his neighbour, "That's no true;
For weel I wat his colour's green,
If ane may trow his ain twa een;
For I in sunshine saw him fair,
When he was dining on the air."
"Excuse me," says the ither blade,
"I saw him better in the shade,

And he is blue." "He's green, I'm sure-
Ye lie. And ye're the son of a wh-e."
Frae words there had been cuff and kick,
Had not a third come in the nick,
Wha tenting them in this rough mood,
Cried, "Gentlemen, what! are ye wud?
What's your quarrel, an't may be speer't?"
"Troth," says the tane, " Sir, ye shall hear't:
The cameleon, I say, he's blue;

He threaps he's green. Now, what say you?" "Ne'er fash yoursells about the matter," Says the sagacious arbitrator,

"He's black. Sae nane of you are right, I view'd him weel by candle-light; And hae it in my pocket here, Row'd in my napkin hale and feer." "Fy!" said ae cangler, "what d'ye mean? I'll lay my lugs on't that he's green." Said th' ither, "Were I gawn to death, I'd swear he's blue wi' my last breath." "He's black!" the judge maintain'd aye stout, And to convince them whop'd him out:

But to surprise o' ane and a'
The animal was white as snaw,

And thus reproved them-" Shallow boys,
Away, away, mak nae mair noise;

Ye're a three wrang, and a' three right;
But learn to own your nei'bour's sight
As guid as your's. Your judgment speak,
But never be sae daftly weak

T'imagine ithers will by force
Submit their sentiments to your's;
As things in various lights ye see,
They'll ilka ane resemble me."

THE TWA LIZARDS; A FABLE.

Beneath a tree, ae shining day,

On a burn-bank twa lizards lay

Beeking themsells, now in the beams,
Then drinking o' the cauler streams.

"Waes me!" says ane o' them to th' ither, "How mean and silly live we, brither! Beneath the moon is ought sae poor,

Regarded less, or mair obscure?
We breathe indeed, and that's just a';
But, forced by destiny's hard law,

On earth like worms to creep and sprawl-
Curst fate to ane that has a saul!
Forby, gin we may true report,
In Nilus giant lizards sport,
Ca'd crocodiles; ah! had I been
Of sic a size upon the green,
Then might I had my skair of fame,
Honour, respect, and a great name;
And man wi' gaping jaws hae shored,
Syne like a pagod been adored."

66

Ah, friend!" replies the ither lizard, "What maks this grumbling in thy gizzard? What cause hae ye to be uneasy?

Cannot the sweets o' freedom please ye?

We, free frae trouble, toil, or care,
Enjoy the sun, the earth, and air,
The crystal spring and green-wood shaw,
And bieldy holes, when tempests blaw.
Why should we fret, look blae, or wan,
Tho' we're contemn'd by paughty man?
If sae, let's in return be wise,
And that proud animal despise."

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"O fy!" returns the ambitious beast,
"How weak a fire now warms thy breast!
It breaks my heart to live sae mean;
I'd like t' attract the gazer's een,
And be admired. What stately horns
The deer's majestic brow adorns!
He claims our wonder and our dread,
Where'er he waves his haughty head.
What envy a' my spirit fires;
When he in clearest pools admires
His various beauties wi' delyte,
I'm like to drown mysell wi' spite."
Thus he held forth-when straight a pack
O' hounds, and hunters at their back,
Ran down a deer before their face,
Breathless and wearied wi' the chace;
The dogs upon the victim seize,
And bugles sound his obsequies:
But neither men nor dogs took tent
O' our wee lizards on the bent,
While hungry Bawty, Buff, and Tray,
Devour'd the paunches o' the prey.

Soon as the bluidy deed was past, The lizard wise the proud addrest :"Dear cousin, now, pray let me hear, How wad ye like to be a deer?"

"Oh hon!" quoth he, convinced and wae, "Wha wad hae thought it ance a-day? Weel, be a private life my fate,

I'll never envy mair the great:

That we are little folk that's true;

But sae's our cares and dangers too."

THE CLOCK AND DIAL; A FABLE.

Ae day a clock wad brag a dial,
And put his qualities to trial:

Spake to him thus-" My neighbour, pray,
Canst tell me what's the time o' day?"
The dial said, "I dinna ken."

"Alake, what stand ye there for then?"
"I wait here till the sun shines bright,
For nought I ken but by his light."
"Wait on," quoth clock, "I scorn his help;
Baith night and day my lain I skelp;
Wind up my weights but ance a-week,
Without him I can gang and speak;
Nor like a useless sumph I stand,
But constantly wheel round my hand:
Hark, hark, I strike just now the hour;
And I am right, ane, twa, three, four."

While thus the clock was boasting loud,
The bleezing sun brak thro' a cloud;
The dial, faithfu' to his guide,

Spake truth, and laid the thumper's pride:
"Ye see," said he, "I've dung ye fair,
'Tis four hours and three quarters mair.
My friend," he added, "count again,
And learn a wee to be less vain:
Ne'er brag of constant clavering cant,
And that you answers never want;
For you're not aye to be believ'd;
Wha trusts to you may be deceiv'd.
Be counsell'd to behave like me;
For when I dinna clearly see,
I always own I dinna ken,
And that's the way o' wisest men."

SONGS.

THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE

MOOR.

The last time I came o'er the moor,
I left my love behind me:
Ye pow'rs! what pain do I endure,
When soft ideas mind me!
Soon as the ruddy morn display'd
The beaming day ensuing,
I met betimes my lovely maid
In fit retreats for wooing.
Beneath the cooling shade we lay,
Gazing and chastely sporting,
We kiss'd and promis'd time away,
Till night spread her black curtain.
I pitied all beneath the skies,

Ev'n kings, when she was nigh me;
In raptures I beheld her eyes,
Which could but ill deny me.

Should I be call'd where cannons roar,
Where mortal steel may wound me,
Or cast upon some foreign shore,
Where dangers may surround me ;
Yet hopes again to see my love,
To feast on glowing kisses,

Shall make my cares at distance move,
In prospect of such blisses.

In all my soul there's not one place
To let a rival enter;

Since she excels in ev'ry grace,

In her my love shall centre,