Where Guilt and poor Misfortune pine! By cruel Fortune's undeservèd blow? I heard nae mair, for Chanticleer Shook off the pouthery snaw, And hail'd the morning with a cheer, A cottage-rousing craw. But deep this truth impress'd my mind Thro' all His works abroad, The heart benevolent and kind The most resembles God. SONG-YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS YON wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide, Where the grouse lead their coveys thro' the heather to feed, Not Gowrie's rich valley, nor Forth's sunny shores, Amang thae wild mountains shall still be my path, She is not the fairest, altho' she is fair; But I lo'e the dear lassie because she lo'es me. To Beauty what man but maun yield him a prize, But kindness, sweet kindness, in the fond-sparkling e'e, Has lustre outshining the diamond to me; And the heart beating love as I'm clasp'd in her arms, O, these are my lassie's all-conquering charms! ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH EDINA! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow'rs, And singing, lone, the lingering hours, Here Wealth still swells the golden tide, Bids elegance and splendour rise: Thy sons, Edina, social, kind, With open arms the stranger hail; Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn, There, watching high the least alarms, Have oft withstood assailing war, With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears, Their hapless race wild-wand'ring roam! Tho' rigid Law cries out " 'twas just!" Wild beats my heart to trace your steps, And fac'd grim Danger's loudest roar, Edina! Scotia's darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow'rs; Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet, Sat Legislation's sovereign pow'rs: From marking wildly-scatt'red flow'rs, ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS FAIR fa' your honest, sonsie face, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin, rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit!" hums. Is there that owre his French ragout Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him owre his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, Thro' blody flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, He'll mak it whissle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thrissle. Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer Gie her a haggis! TO MISS LOGAN With Beattie's Poems for a New-Year's Gift, Jan. 1, 1787. AGAIN the silent wheels of time Their annual round have driven, And you, tho' scarce in maiden prime, No gifts have I from Indian coasts I send you more than India boasts, |