Stern. A WINTER NIGHT. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, WHEN biting Boreas, fell and doure,1 Dim darkening through the flaky shower, Ae night the storm the steeples rocked, Or through the mining outlet bocked,3 Down headlong hurl. 4 List'ning, the doors an' winnocks rattle, O' winter war, 6 And through the drift, deep-lairing sprattle,? 9 Ilk happing bird, wee, helpless thing, What comes o' thee? Whare wilt thou cower thy chittering wing, An' close thy e'e? Ev'n you on murdering errands toiled, Lone from your savage homes exiled, The blood-stained roost, and sheep-cote spoiled, My heart forgets, While pitiless the tempest wild Sore on you beats. Now Phoebe, in her midnight reign, Dark muffled, viewed the dreary plain; 4 Windows. 7 Wading, scramble. 8 Cliff. 3 Gushed. 6 Hurry. 52 66 WINTER NIGHT. Still crowding thoughts, a pensive train, When on my ear this plaintive strain, Blow, blow, ye winds, with heavier gust! Than heaven-illumined Man on brother Man bestows! Or mad Ambition's gory hand, Sending, like bloodhounds from the slip, With all the servile wretches in the rear, Whose toil upholds the glittering show, Some coarser substance, unrefined, Placed for her lordly use thus far, thus vile, below. With lordly Honour's lofty brow, The powers you proudly own? Is there, beneath Love's noble name, Can harbour, dark, the selfish aim, To bless himself alone? Mark maiden innocence a prey To love-pretending snares; This boasted honour turns away, Regardless of the tears, and unavailing prayers! Feel not a want but what yourselves create, NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION. Think on the dungeon's grim confine, A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss!" I heard nae mair, for Chanticleer Shook off the pouthery snaw, And hailed the morning with a cheer, But deep this truth impressed my mind- The heart, benevolent and kind, 53 SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE, ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIP OF CORN TO HANSEL IN A GUID New Year I wish thee, Maggie ! Thou could hae gaen like ony staggie Though now thou's dowie, stiff, an' crazy, He should been tight that daur't to raize thee Thou ance was i' the foremost rank, As e'er tread yird; 6 An' could hae flown out-owre a stank 7 Like onie bird. 1 A handful of corn in the stalks. 2 Sunk in the back and sharp-boned. 3 Lea. 5 Strong, active, and stately. 4 Spiritless. 6 Earth. 7 Ditch or morass. 54 THE AULD FARMER'S It's now some nine-an'-twenty year Though it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear, Though now ye dow but hoyte' and hobble, 8 That day ye was a jinker 10 noble, For heels an' win'! An' ran them till they a' did wauble," When thou an' I were young and skeigh,12 An' tak' the road! When thou was corn't, an' I was mellow, For pith and speed; But every tail thou pay't them hollow, Whare'er thou gaed. NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION. The sma', droop-rumpl't,' hunter cattle, Nae whip nor spur, but just a wattle 5 Thou was a noble fittie-lan'," As e'er in tug or tow was drawn! Aft thee an' I, in aught hours gaun, On guid March weather, Hae turned sax rood beside our han', For days thegither. 8 Thou never braindg't, an' fech't,' an' fliskit,10 Till spritty knowes " wad rair't 12 and risket,13 When frosts lay lang, an' snaws were deep, 15 I gied thy cog a wee bit heap Aboon the timmer; I ken'd my Maggie wad na sleep For that, or simmer. In cart or car thou never reestit; 16 The steyest 17 brae thou wad hae fac't it; But just thy step a wee thing hastit, My pleugh is now thy bairn-time a'; 20 That thou hast nurst: They drew me thretteen pund an' twa, The vera warst. Sloping-backed. 3 Worse thee in a short race. 2 Perhaps. 4 Wheeze. 5 A switch. 7 The near horse of the hindmost pair at the plough. 8 Plunged forward. 9 Pulled by fits. " Hillocks with rough-rooted plants in them. 13 Make a noise like the tearing of roots. 15 Wooden measure. 16 Timber. 18 Leaped, reared, or started forward. 19 Went smoothly and constantly. 6 Willow. 10 Fretted. 12 Rent. 17 Steepest. 55 |