Ye powers of honour, love, and truth,
From ev'ry ill defend her;
Inspire the highly favour'd youth
The destinies intend her;

Still fan the sweet connubial flame
Responsive in each bosom;
And bless the dear parental name
With many a filial blossom.

MARY!

Tune "Blue Bonnets."

POWERS celestial! whose protection
Ever guards the virtuous fair,
While in distant climes I wander,
Let my Mary be your care:
Let her form, sae fair and faultless,
Fair and faultless as your own ;
Let my Mary's kindred spirit,
Draw

your choicest influence down.

Make the gales you waft around her,
Soft and peaceful as her breast;
Breathing in the breeze that fans her,
Soothe her bosom into rest :
Guardian angels, O protect her,

When in distant lands I roam;
To realms unknown while fate exiles me,
Make her bosom still my home.*

* This is, in all probability, one of the many fine lyrics which originated in the poet's ardent and devoted attachment to his "Highland Mary;" and not unlikely written on the eve of his contemplated departure to the West Indies. In his manuscript it is simply entitled "A Prayer for Mary," and there can scarcely be imagined one breathing better or purer feelings.-M.

BONNIE PEGGY ALISON.*

Tune-" Braes o' Balquhidder."

I'll kiss thee yet, yet,

And I'll kiss thee o'er again,
And I'll kiss thee yet, yet,

My bonnie Peggy Alison !

ILK care and fear, when thou art near,
I ever mair defy them, O;
Young kings upon their hansel throne
Are no sae blest as I am, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

When in my arms, wi' a' thy charms,
I clasp my countless treasure, O;
I seek nae mair o' Heaven to share,
Than sic a moment's pleasure, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

And by thy een, sae bonnie blue,
I swear I'm thine for ever, 0!-
And on thy lips I seal my vow,
And break it shall I never, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

*This was an unacknowledged contribution by Burns to Johnson's Musical Museum. Cromek, seeing it in the hand-writing of Burns, has inserted it in his Reliques. The paternity of it, although not one of the poet's happiest efforts, cannot, we think, be questioned.-M.

ON CESSNOCK BANKS.*

Tune-" If he be a Butcher neat and trim."

ON Cessnock banks there lives a lass,
Could I describe her shape and mien;
The graces of her weelfar'd face,

And the glancin of her sparklin een.

She's fresher than the morning dawn,
When rising Phœbus first is seen,
When dewdrops twinkle o'er the lawn;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

She's stately like yon youthful ash,

That grows the cowslip braes between,
And shoots its head above each bush ;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

She's spotless as the flowering thorn
With flowers so white and leaves so green,

When purest in the dewy morn ;

And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her looks are like the sportive lamb,
When flowery May adorns the scene,
That wantons round its bleating dam;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her hair is like the curling mist

That shades the mountain-side at e'en,
When flower-reviving rains are past;

And she's twa glancin sparklin een

*This song was an early production. It was recovered by the Editor from the oral communication of a lady residing at Glasgow, whom the bard in early life affectionately admired. Cromek

Her forehead's like the showery bow,
When shining sunbeams intervene
And gild the distant mountain's brow;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her voice is like the ev❜ning thrush
That sings in Cessnock banks unseen,
While his mate sits nestling in the bush ;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her lips are like the cherries ripe,
That sunny walls from Boreas screen,
They tempt the taste and charm the sight;
And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her teeth are like a flock of sheep,
With fleeces newly washen clean,
That slowly mount the rising steep;

And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze

That gently stirs the blossom'd bean, When Phoebus sinks behind the seas;

And she's twa glancin sparklin een.

But it's not her air, her form, her face, Tho' matching beauty's fabled queen; But the mind that shines in ev'ry grace, And chiefly in her sparklin een.

HIGHLAND MARY.*

Tune-"Katharine Ogie."

YE banks, and braes, and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery,

Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!

There simmer first unfauld her robes,

And there the langest tarry;

For there I took the last fareweel

O' my sweet Highland Mary.

* Mary Campbell, the subject of this and several of the most beautiful effusions of the unfortunate Burns, was unquestionably the object of the purest, holiest, and most ardent affection that ever glowed within the bosom of the poet. The history of their loves is interesting.-Mary Campbell resided near Mauchline, in the humble capacity of servant in a gentleman's family. She was not celebrated for great beauty; but she possessed the less perishable charms of an intelligent mind, a sweet temper, and mild disposition: these gained her general esteem, and won the heart of the youthful bard. After a pretty long tract of the most ardent reciprocal affection, they met on a May Sunday, in a sequestered spot on "the bonnie banks o' Ayr," to enjoy "a day of parting love" before Mary should embark for the Highlands to arrange matters among her friends for her projected change in life. The ceremonial observed at parting was extremely simple and impressive. The lovers stood upon the opposite banks of a limpid rivulet—laved their hands in its murmuring waters, and then exchanged Bibles, and in the most solemn manner pledged vows of eternal fidelity across the stream. The Bible which Burns that day placed in the hands of his soul's idol is still preserved. Upon the boards of the first volume is inscribed, in the hand-writing of the bard, "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely-I am the Lord.-Leviticus xix. chap. 12 verse." On the second volume, "Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath.-Matthew v. chap. 33 verse. Upon the blank leaf of each, "Robert Burns, Mossgiel." Mary proceeded to the Highlands, and communicated to her relations the matrimonial offers of her Lowland lover. Burns' gallantry at this time formed "a theme for gossips' story." He was then the father of an illegitimate child, and her friends were averse to her forming a union with one whom the world con

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