Wi' gleesome speed, Wha will they station at the cock?" He was the king o'a' the core, In time o' need; But now he lags on death's hog-score, Now safe the stately sawmonta sail, Since dark in death's fish-creeld we wail Rejoice, ye birring paitricks a'; Your mortal fae is now awa', Tam Samson 's dead! That waefu' morn be ever mourn'd, But, och! he gaed and ne'er return'd! In vain auld age his body batters; w The winning place in curling. To strike a stone in an oblique direction. y The course of the stones at the game of curling. A kind of distance line, in curling, drawn across the rink. a Salmon. b Pike. d Fish-basket. Greediness. e Partridges. h Hares. k Accoutrements. f Birds which have feathers on the legs are said to be cootic. g Crow courageously. i Čock your tail handsomely. In vain the burns' came down like waters An acre braid !m Now every auld wife, greetin❜n clatters, 'Tam Samson's dead!' Owre many a weary hago he limpit P Now he proclaims, wi' tout' o' trumpet, ་ When at his heart he felt the dagger, Wi' weel-aim'd heed; Ilk hoary hunter mourn'd a brither; Whare Burns has wrote, in rhyming blether, There low he lies, in lasting rest; Alas! nae mair he 'll them molest! Tam Samson 's dead When August winds the heather wave, m Broad. z Rivulets. n Crying. o A scar or gulf in mosses or moors. p Limped, or hobbled. 9 Feud, enmity. r Blast. An exclamation at finding he had killed five birds. Builds. O' pouther an' lead, Till Echo answer frae her cave, 'Tam Samson 's dead!' Heav'n rest his saul, where'er it be ! Ae social, honest man want we : THE EPITAPH. TAM SAMSON'S weel-worn clay here lies PER CONTRA. Go Fame, and canter like a filly Thro' a' the streets an' neuks o' Killie,y Tell every social, honest billiez To cease his grievin', For yet, unskaith'da by Death's gleg gullie,b A' Tam Samson 's livin'. ON A SCOTTISH BARD, Gone to the West Indies. A' YE wha live by soups o' drink, ye wha live by crambo-clink,c A' ye wha live and never think, Come, mourn wi' me! Lament him, a' ye rantin' core, u Many more. y Kilmarnock. b Sharp knife. d Given. w Remedy. z Honest fellow. r Get. a Unhurt. c Rhymes, doggrel verses. e A dodge. Afrolic. Nae mair he 'll join the merry roar, For now he's taen anither shore, The bonnie lasses weel may wisse him, For weel I wat they'll sairly miss him, O Fortune! they hae room to grumble! Auld cantie Kylem may weepers wear, He was her laureate monie a year He saw misfortune's cauld nor❜-west So, took a birth afore the mast, An' owre the sea. To tremble under Fortune s cummock, Wish. / Wimble. λ A blunderer. i Trifle. k Sharp, ready. m A district in Ayrshire. • Broken pieces. n Salt. P Jilt. 9 Rod, or staff. r Raw meal and water. So, row'd his hurdiest in a hammock, He ne'er was gien to great misguidin', The Muse was a' that he took pride in, Jamaica bodies, use him weel, He wad na wrang'd the vera Deil, Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie! I'll toast ye in my hindmost gillie, ELEGY ON THE YEAR 1788. January 1, 1780. FOR lords or kings I dinna mourn, E'en let them die-for that they're born! The Spanish empire 's tint a head, |