28 And when the bard, or hoary sage, Charm or instruct the future age, They bind the wild poetic rage In energy, Or point the inconclusive page Full on the eye. 29 Hence Fullarton, the brave and young; Hence Dempster's zeal-inspired tongue; Hence sweet harmonious Beattie sung His Minstrel' lays, Or tore, with noble ardour stung, The sceptic's bays. 30 To lower orders are assign'd The humbler ranks of human-kind, The artisan; All choose, as various they're inclined, The various man. 31 When yellow waves the heavy grain, The threat'ning storm some strongly rein; Some teach to meliorate the plain, With tillage-skill; And some instruct the shepherd-train, Blithe o'er the hill. 32 'Some hint the lover's harmless wile; Some grace the maiden's artless smile; Some soothe the labourer's weary toil For humble gains, And make his cottage-scenes beguile His cares and pains. 33 Some, bounded to a district-space, 16 Explore at large man's infant race, And careful note each opening grace, A guide and guard. 34 'Of these am I-Coila my name; Where once the Campbells,1 chiefs of fame, I mark'd thy embryo tuneful flame, Thy natal hour. 35 With future hope, I oft would gaze Thy rudely caroll'd, chiming phrase, In uncouth rhymes, Fired at the simple, artless lays Of other times. 36 I saw thee seek the sounding shore, Drove through the sky, I saw grim Nature's visage hoar Struck thy young eye. 37 Or when the deep green-mantled earth In every grove, 'Campbells: the Loudoun branch of that family; Mossgeil was the Earl of Loudoun's property. I saw thee eye the general mirth With boundless love. 38 When ripen'd fields, and azure skies, Call'd forth the reaper's rustling noise, I saw thee leave their evening joys, And lonely stalk, To vent thy bosom's swelling rise In pensive walk. 39 When youthful love, warm-blushing, strong, Keen-shivering shot thy nerves along, Those accents, grateful to thy tongue, The adored Name, I taught thee how to pour in song, To soothe thy flame. 40 I saw thy pulse's madd'ning play, Wild send thee Pleasure's devious way, Misled by Fancy's meteor ray, By passion driven; But yet the light that led astray Was light from Heaven. 41 'I taught thy manners-painting strains, The loves, the ways of simple swains, Till now, o'er all my wide domains Thy fame extends; And some, the pride of Coila's plains, 42 Thou canst not learn, nor can I show, To paint with Thomson's landscape glow; 43 Yet, all beneath the unrivall'd rose, Though large the forest's monarch throws Yet green the juicy hawthorn grows, Adown the glade. 44 Then never murmur nor repine; Strive in thy humble sphere to shine; And, trust me, not Potosi's mine, Nor kings' regard, Can give a bliss o'ermatching thine, A rustic Bard. 45 To give my counsels all in one,Thy tuneful flame still careful fan; Preserve the dignity of man, With soul erect; And trust, the Universal Plan Will all protect. 46 And wear thou this'-she solemn said, And bound the holly round my head: And, like a passing thought, she fled In light away. ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUID, OR THE RIGIDLY RIGHTEOUS. 'My son, these maxims make a rule, And lump them aye thegither; The Rigid Righteous is a fool, The Rigid Wise anither: The cleanest corn that e'er was dight SOLOMON.-Eccles. vii. 16. 10 YE wha are sae guid yoursel' Ye've naught to do but mark and tell And still the clap plays clatter. 2 Hear me, ye venerable core, As counsel for poor mortals, That frequent pass douce Wisdom's door I, for their thoughtless, careless sakes, Their donsie tricks, their black mistakes, 3 Ye see your state wi' theirs compared, And shudder at the niffer, But cast a moment's fair regard What maks the mighty differ? |