STANZAS ON NAETHING Lines Written on a Banknote.1 For lack o' thee, I leave this much-lov'd shore, KYLE. R. B. Stanzas on Naething. Extempore Epistle to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.2 To you, sir, this summons I've sent, Pray, whip till the pownie is freathinga; I honestly answer you—naething. Ne'er scorn a poor Poet like me, For idly just living and breathing, While people of every degree Are busy employed about-naething. Poor Centum-per-centum may fast, b And grumble his hurdies their claithing, He's gane to the devil for-naething. ⚫ foaming. 1 Burns was now skulking in Kyle, as John Knox sometimes did, under fear of legal proceedings by the Armour b haunches. family. The note is of 1780 (Mother. well. 2 The accustomed elegy on emigration and possible drowning. The courtier cringes and bows, Some quarrel the Presbyter gown, The lover may sparkle and glow, The Poet may jingle and rhyme, In hopes of a laureate wreathing, The thundering bully may rage, And swagger and swear like a heathen; But collar him fast, I'll engage, You'll find that his courage is-naething. Last night wi' a feminine whig- I taught her, her terrors were naething. Her whigship was wonderful pleased, And kissed her, and promised her-naething. The priest anathèmas may threat— THE FAREWELL And now I must mount on the wave- The drowning a Poet is naething. And now, as grim death's in my thought, My service as long as ye've ought, And my friendship, by God, when ye've naething. The Farewell.1 The valiant, in himself, what can he suffer? To dearer selves, to the lov'd tender fair, To those whose bliss, whose beings hang upon him, And weakly weeps his fortunes like a coward: THOMSON'S Edward and Eleanora. FAREWELL, Old Scotia's bleak domains, A faithful brother I have left, My Smith, my bosom frien'; 1 "He traversed the cart, And oft said good bye, but seemed Mrs Burns (Miss Armour) bore twins on Sept. 3, 1786. The father of the lady was reconciled to Burns when he became successful. Highland Mary seems to be out of sight and out of mind. What bursting anguish tears my heart; Thou, weeping, answ'rest-"No!" All hail then, the gale then, Wafts me from thee, dear shore! It rustles, and whistles I'll never see thee more! The Calf.1 To the Rev. JAMES STEVEN, on his text, MALACHI, ch. iv. vers. 2. "And ye shall go forth, and grow up, as CALVES of the stall." RIGHT, sir! your text I'll prove it true, Tho' heretics may laugh; For instance, there's yoursel just now, And should some patron be so kind, I doubt na, sir, but then we'll find, But, if the lover's raptur'd hour, · exceeding. 1 Written as a compendium of a sermon, for Gavin Hamilton, Sept. 3, 1786, the birthday of the twins. A MS. copy gives a few slight variations. NATURE'S LAW Tho' when some kind connubial dear The like has been that you may wear And, in your lug, most reverend James, Few men o' sense will doubt your claims And when ye're number'd wi' the dead, With justice they may mark your head— Nature's Law-A Poem.1 Humbly inscribed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq. And other poets sing of wars, Great Nature spoke, with air benign, The liquid fire of strong desire I've pour'd it in each bosom ; Here, on this hand, does Mankind stand, ⚫ low. b cattle. • dissension. 1 An affecting celebration of the twins aforesaid. |