Forjesket sair, with weary legs, My awkwart Muse sair pleads and begs The tapetless, ramfeezl'd hizzie, She's saft at best, and something lazy; Quo' she, "Ye ken we've been sae busy, This month an' mair, That, trouth, my head is grown right dizzie, And something sair." Her dowff excuses pat me mad: This vera night; So dinna ye affront your trade, "Shall bauld Lapraik, the king o' hearts, Yet ye'll neglect to show your parts, Sae I gat paper in a blink, And down gaed stumpie in the ink; An' if you winna mak it clink, By Jove I'll prose it'* Sae I've begun to scrawl, but whether But I shall scribble down some blether My worthy friend, ne'er grudge an' carp, Ne'er mind how Fortune waft an' warp; She's gien me monie a jest an' fleg I'll laugh an' sing, an' shake my leg, Now comes the sax-an'-twentieth simmer Frae year to year; But yet, despite the kittle kimmer, Do ye envy the city gent, Behind a kist to lie and skient, Or purse-proud, big wi' cent. per cent, In some bit burgh to represent A bailie's name? Or, is't the paughty, feudal thane, While caps and bonnets aff are taen, "O Thou, wha gies us each guid gift, Then turn me, if Thou please, adrift, Wi' cits nor lairds I wadna shift. In a' their pride!' Were this the charter of our state But, thanks to Heav'n! that's no the gate We learn our creed: For thus the royal mandate ran, 'Tis he fulfils great Nature's plan, O, mandate glorious and divine! The ragged followers of the Nine, While sordid sons of Mammon's line Are dark as night. Tho' here they scrape, an' squeeze, an' growl, Or in some day-detesting owl May shun the light. Then may Lapraik and Burns arise, Still closer knit in friendship's ties TO W. S*****N. OCHILTREE, MAY, 1785. I GAI' your letter, winsome Willie; Should I believe, my coaxin billy, But I'se believe ye kindly meant it; On my poor Musie; Tho' in sic phraisin terms ye've penn'd it I scarce excuse ye My senses wad be in a creel, The braes o' fame; Or Fergusson, the writer-chiel, A deathless name. (0 Fergusson! thy glorious parts The tithe o' what ye waste at cartes Yet when a tale comes i' my head, I kittle up my rustic reed, It gies me ease. Auld Coila now may fidge fu' fain, She's gotten poets o' her ain, Chiels wha their chanters winna hain, But tune their lays Till echoes a' resound again Her weel-sung praise. Nae poet thought her worth his while Or whare wild-meeting oceans boil |