THERE'S naethin like the honest nappy! | I've seen me daez't upon a time; I scarce could wink or see a styme; FRAGMENT. Now health forsakes that angel face, The cruel powers reject the prayer Ye Heavens, how great is my despair, EPIGRAM ON A NOTED COXCOMB. LIGHT lay the earth on Billy's breast, His chicken heart so tender; But build a castle on his head, His scull will prop it under. 'IN VAIN WOULD PRUDENCE? IN vain would Prudence, with decorous sneer, 'THOUGH FICKLE FORTUNE? THOUGH fickle Fortune has deceiv'd me, She promis'd fair and perform'd but ill; I'll act with prudence as far's I'm able, Then come misfortune, I bid thee welcome, THE LOYAL NATIVES' VERSES. YE Sons of sedition, give ear to my song, These verses were handed over the table to Burns at a convivial meeting, and he indorsed the subjoined reply: BURNS-EXTEMPORE. YE true 'Loyal Natives,' attend to my song, But where is your shield from the darts of contempt? 'I BURN, I BURN. 'I BURN, I burn, as when thro' ripen'd corn, Chain'd at his feet they groan, Love's vanquish'd foes; I dare not combat - but I turn and fly; Conscience in vain upbraids th' unhallowed fire; By all on high adoring mortals know! TAM THE CHAPMAN. As Tam the Chapman on a day Wi' Death forgather'd by the way, Weel pleas'd, he greets a wight sae famous, And Death was nae less pleased wi' Thomas, Wha cheerfully lays down the pack, And there blaws up a hearty crack; His social, friendly, honest heart, Sae tickled Death they could na part: Sae after viewing knives and garters, Death takes him hame to gie him quarters. TO DR. MAXWELL. ON MISS JESSY STAIG'S RECOVERY. MAXWELL, if merit here you crave, You save fair Jessy from the grave! TRAGIC FRAGMENT. 'ALL devil as I am, a damned wretch, Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity; 'The most detested, worthless wretch among you! EXTEMPORE. PINNED TO A LADY'S COACH. IF you rattle along like your mistress's tongue, Your speed will out-rival the dart: But, a fly for your load, you'll break down on the road, If your stuff be as rotten's her heart. LINES ON BEING ASKED WHY GOD HAD MADE MISS DAVIES SO LITTLE AND MRS. *** SO LARGE. Written on a Pane of Glass in the Inn at Moffat. Ask why God made the gem so small, Because God meant mankind should set FRAGMENTS. YE hae lien a' wrang, lassie, And wi a fremit man. O ance ye danced upon the knowes O GIE my love brose, brose, Can please a lassie better. And me and my love together. LASS, when your mither is frae hame, Young man, gif ye should be sae kind, The way to me lies through the kirk; I MET a lass, a bonie lass, Coming o'er the braes o' Couper, Bare her leg and bright her een, And handsome ilka bit about her. Weel I wat she was a quean Wad made a body's mouth to water; Our Mess John, wi' his lyart pow, His haly lips wad lickit at her. O WAT ye what my minnie did, My minnie did, my minnie did, O wat ye what my minnie did, On Tysday 'teen to me, jo? She laid me in a saft bed, A saft bed, a saft bed, An' wat ye what the parson did, The parson did, the parson did, An' wat ye what the parson did, A' for a penny fee, jo? A mickle man, a strang man, That might hae worried me, jo. An' I was but a young thing, A young thing, a young thing, An' I was but a young thing, Wi' nane to pity me, jo. I wat the kirk was in the wyte, In the wyte, in the wyte, To pit a young thing in a fright, An' loose a man on me, jo. O CAN ye labour lea, young man, I feed a man at Martinmas, An' a' the faut I fan' wi' him, The stibble rig is easy plough'd, But wha wad keep the handless coof, JENNY M'CRAW, she has ta'en to the heather, Say, was it the covenant carried her thither; |