MY LAST WILL. WHILE sober folks, in humble prose, His moveables in doggrel verse; And fearing death my blood will fast chill, I hereby constitute my last will. Then wit ye me to have made o'er To her I give and grant the freedom Thanks to the god, who made me poor! Of this stamp none will ever follow And leave them with my kindest breath; Nor will I burden them with payment TO JAMIE RAE,* who oft jocosus And wake remembrance of a friend sorry, He may beqeath't 'mong stubborn fellows, To all the finer feelings callous, Who thinks that parting breath's a sneeze To set sensations all at ease. TO OLIPHANT,† my friend, I legate Those writs I ne'er could retrospect, With as much power ad Musa bona * Solicitor at law, and the Poet's intimate friend.. TO HAMILTON* I give the task- To WOODS, whose genius can provoke * Solicitor at law, and another of the Poet's friends. † A Tavern keeper. Witness whereof, these presents wrote are By William Blair, the public notar, And for the tremor of my hand, Are sign'd by him at my command. R. F. x his Mark. CODICILE TO ROB. FERGUSSON'S LAST WILL WHEREAS, by test'ment, dated blank, 'Midst brighter themes that weekly come From one who liv'd and died a Bard. Teaching mankind the art of rhiming, The liberty to add and eik To test❜ment which already made is, * The Publisher of the Weekly Magazine. |