THE following POEM will, by many Readers, be well enough understood; but for the fake of those who are unacquainted with the manners and traditions of the country where the scene is caft, notes are added, to give fome account of the principal Charms and Spells of that night, fo big with Prophecy to the Peafantry in the Weft of Scotland, The paffion of prying into Futurity makes a ftriking part of the Hiftory of Human. Nature, in its rude ftate, in all ages and nations and it may be fome entertainment to a philofophicmind, if any fuch fhould honour the Author with a perufal, to fee the remains of it, among the more unenlightened in our own. HALLOWEEN.* Yes! let the Rich deride, the Proud difdain. I. GOLDSMITH.. UPON that night when Fairies light. On Caffilis Downanst dance, There, up the Cove,t to ftray an' rove, To fport that night. Is thought to be a night when Witches, Devils, and other mifchief-making beings, are all abroad, on their baneful midnight errands; particularly, thofe ærial people, the Fairies, are faid on that night, to hold a grand Anniversary. Certain little, romantic, rocky, green hills, in the neigh bourhood of the ancient feat of the Earls of Caffilis. A noted cavern near Colean-houfe, called the Cove of Colean; which, as well as Caffilis Downans, is famed, in country story, for being a favourite haunt of Fairies. If. Among the bonie winding banks. Where Don rins, wimplin clear, To burn their nits, an' pou their flocks.. An' haud their Halloween Fu' blythe that night. III. The laffes feat, and cleanly neat, Mair braw than when they're fine; Some unco blate, an' fome wi' gabs,. Whyles faft at night.. IV.. Then, firft an' foremost, thro' the kail, Their flocks maun a' be faught ance; *The famous family of that name, the ancestors of Rom BERT the great Deliverer of his country, were Earls of Carrick. The first ceremony of Halloween is, pulling each as Stock, or plant of kail. They must go out, hand in hand, They fteek their een, an' grape an' wale An' pou't for want o' better shift, Sae bow't that nights. V. Then, ftraught or crooked, yird or nane, The vera wee things, toadlin, rin, Wi' ftocks out owre their fhouther An' gif the cuftock's sweet or four, Wi' joctelegs they taste them; Syne coziely, aboon the door, Wi' cannie care, they've plac'd them To lie that night. VI: The laffes ftaw frae 'mang them a' with eyes fhut, and pull the first they meet with: its being *They go to the barn-yard, and Pull each, at three feveral times. a stalk of Oats. If the third stalk wants the top-pickley . But Rab flips out, an' jinks about, Loud fkirld a' the laffes; But her top-pickle maist was loft When kiutlin i' the Fause houfe* Wi' him that night. VII. The auld Guidwife's weel-hoorded nits† Are round an' round divided, An' monie lads an' laffes' fates Are there that night decided; Some kindle, couthie, fide by fide, Some ftart awa, wi' faucy pride, Fu' high that night. that is, the grain at the top of the ftalk, the party in question will come to the marriage-bed any thing but a maid. When the corn is in a doubtful ftate, by being too green or wet, the ftack-builder, by means of old timber, &c. makes a large apartment in his ftack, with an opening in the fidewhich is faireft exposed to the wind; this he calls a Faufehouse. Burning the nuts is a favourite charm. They name the lad and lafs to each particular nut, as they lay them in the fire; and according as they burn quietly together, or start. from befide one another, the course and issue of the Courts ship will be. |