"I winna stay ae moment langer."

66

My lord, please to command your anger; "Pray only let me tell you that

"What wad this infolent be at?

"Rot out your tongue! pray, master Symmer, "Remove me frae this dinfome rhymer; "If you regard your reputation, "And us of a distinguish'd station,

"Hence frae this beast let me be hurried,

"For with his ftour and ftink I'm worried."

Scarce had he shook his paughty crap, When in a customer did pap;

He up doufe Stanza lifts, and eyes him, Turns o'er his leaves, admires, and buys him: "This book," said he, "is good and scarce, "The faul of sense in sweetest verse." But reading title of gilt cleathing,

66

Cries, "Gods! wha buys this bonny naithing? Nought duller e'er was put in print: "Wow! what a deal of Turky's tint!"

Now, Sir, t' apply what we 've invented :
You are the buyer represented;
And may your fervant hope

My lays fhall merit your regard,
I'll thank the gods for my reward,
And smile at ilka fop.

FABLE II.

THE CLOCK AND THE DIAL

Aɛ day a Clock wad brag a Dial,
And put his qualities to trial;

Spake to him thus: "My neighbour, pray
"Can't tell me what's the time of day ?"
The Dial faid, “I dinna ken.”.

"Alake! what ftand ye there for then?""I wait here till the fun fhines bright, "For nought I ken but by his light.""Wait on," quoth Clock, "I fcorn his help; "Baith night and day my lane I skelp: "Wind up my weights but anes a week, "Without him I can gang and speak; "Nor like an useless fumph I ftand, "But conftantly wheel round my hand:

Hark, hark! I ftrike just now the hour, "And I am right-ane, twa, three, four."

While thus the Clock was boafting loud,
The bleezing fun brak thro' a cloud :
The Dial, faithfu' to his guide,

Spake truth, and laid the thumper's pride:

"Ye

"Ye fee," faid he, "I've dung you 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 conftant clavering cant, "And that you answers never want; "For you 're not ay to be believ'd, "Wha trust to you may be deceiv'd. "Be counsell'd to behave like me; "For when I dinna clearly fee, "I always own I dinna ken,

"And that's the way

of wifeft men."

FABLE III.

THE RAM AND THE BUCK.

A RAM, the father of a flock,

Wha'd mony winters ftood the shock
Of northern winds and driving fnaw,
Leading his family in a raw,

Through wreaths that clad the laigher field,
And drave them frae the lowner bield,

To crop contented frozen fare,

With honesty on hills blown bare:
This Ram, of upright hardy fpirit,
Was really a horn'd head of merit.
Unlike him was a neighbouring Goat,
A mean-faul'd, cheating, thieving fot,
That tho' poffeft of rocks the prime,
Crown'd with fresh herbs and rowth of thyme,
Yet, flave to pilfering, his delight

Was to break gardens ilka night,

And round him steal, and aft destroy

Even things he never could enjoy;

The pleasure of a dirty mind,

That is fae viciously inclin❜d.

Upon

Upon a barrowing day, when fleet
Made twinters and hog-wedders bleet,
And quake with cauld; behind a ruck
Met honest Toop and sneaking Buck;
Frae chin to tail clad with thick hair,
He bad defiance to thin air ;

But trufty Toop his fleece had riven,
When he amang the birns was driven :
Half naked the brave leader stood,
His look compos'd, unmov'd his mood:
When thus the Goat, that had tint a'
His credit baith with great and fma',
Shun'd by them as a pest, wad fain
New friendship with this worthy gain:
"Ram, fay, fhall I give you a part
"Of mine? I'll do 't with all my heart:
" 'Tis yet a lang cauld month to Beltan,
"And ye 've a very ragged kelt on;
"Accept, I pray, what I can spare,

"No," fays the Ram," tho' my coat 's

66 torn,

"Yet ken, thou worthlefs, that I fcorn

"To be oblig'd at any price

"To fic as you, whose friendship 's vice:

"I'd