תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

"And o'er our death-accuftom'd arms
"Shall filly tears prevail?

They gied a fhout, their bows they tuik,
They clafh'd their steely fwords,
Like the loud waves of Bara's fhore:
There was nae room for words.

A cry the weeping Mary gied:
"O uncle! hear my prayer:
"Heed na' that man of bluidy look"-
She had nae time for mair.

For in the midst anon there came
A blind, unweeting dart,

That glanc'd frae off her Duncan's targe,
And ftrack her to the heart.

A while fhe stagger'd, fyne fhe fell,
And Duncan see'd her fa':
Astound he flood; for in his limbs.
There was nae power at a'.

The fpear he meant at faes to fling,
Stood fix'd within his hand :

His lips, half open, cou'd na' fpeak:
His life was at a stand.

Sae the black stump of fome auld aik,
With arms in triumph dight,

Seems to the traveller like a man,

* *

Caetera defunt.

THE

THE

WHY

COBLER.

HY fhould the mufe in high ambitious verfe Sing the ftern warrior, and the bloody plain? Why not the praise of industry rehearse, Its heart-felt pleasure, and laborious pain? In a fmall corner of yon narrow lane An humble habitation may you fee; Its lonely window boafts no chrystal pane: O free from taxes may it ever be!

[fee.

Afk you who dwells within? why then step in and

There lives a lowly wight, unknown to fame, Of doubtless merit he, howe'er obfcure; That artist fly, whom we a Cobler name, For ever chearful, and for ever poor. Far from the precincts of his peaceful door Vexatious riches fly, and wafting forrow; To-day is his; that he enjoys fecure;

And to the care of heaven commits to-morrow: Nor aught has he to lend, nor aught can think to borrow.

He with the dawning of the early morn, What time the loud-pip'd cock unceasing crows, Brifk as the hunter at the founding horn, Starts up in hafte, and to his cell he goes: Mid the keen piercing air his vifage glows. Is there no brandy then at my command? Ah! fpare, ye biting frofts, his Helpless toes; Nor mar the useful labours of his hand, Elfe muft my naked fect unwilling print the fand.

He

He rubs his hands a while, and down he fits;
The thread is twin'd; the wax along it flies;
Then to the last the patient fhoe he fits,
And the harp awl right cunningly he plies.
Meanwhile he liftens to the tuneful cries
Of falt, of cabbage, or of fish to sell;
Or elfe fome merry fong doth he-devife,
Which ftories quaint of ancient times doth tell,
Or whistles as he works, pleas'd and contented well.
Ye reftles imps, that run about the street,
Run without fear; 'tis needlefs to give o'er:
Mifs to the fire may freely fet her feet;
Mother may fcold; and what can she do more?
Whate'er is loft, the cobler can restore;

Be it a heel, or fhould a feam be flit,
Or fhould a hole, burnt out, appear before,
There is an art which even that hole can fit:
Cobling's that worthy art: I fing the praise of it,

'Tis night; I fee his dimly-glimm'ring lamp;
Like a faint ftar which through the fog doth fhine,
Its fickly flames opprefs'd with vapours damp,
Its beams fcarce reaching this abode of mine:
By it he fits, nor yet doth he repine-

What doft thou mean, thou rash mischievous boy?
Lay down that stone; that wicked wit of thine,
Be
gone with speed, and fomewhere else employ:
Let honeft industry in peace itself enjoy.

But now the labour of the day is done;
Nor without half-pence is his leathern purse :
O fweet reward of toil! how fairly won!
However little, got without a curfe.

So

So home he hies him, freely to difburse
The earnings of the day in ale fo brown;

He thanks kind heaven that made his lot no worfe;
Then takes his drink, and lays him foftly down;
Nor wants a loving wife, his honeft joys to crown.

Q

ORTHODOX

ADVICE.

UOTH John to his teacher, good Sir, if

please,

you

I wou'd beg your advice in a difficult cafe; 'Tis a weighty concern, that may hold one for life, "Tis, in fhort, the old ftory of taking a wife. [marry, There's a pair of young damfels I'm proffer'd to And whether to chufe puts me in a quandary : Alike they're in age, family, fortune, and feature, Only one has more grace, and the other good-nature.

As for that, fays the teacher, good-nature and love, And sweetness of temper, are gifts from above; And, as coming from thence, we fhould give 'em their due;

Grace is a fuperior bleffing, 'tis true.

Ay, Sir, I remember an excellent ferment, Wherein all along you gave grace the preferment. I'll never forget it; as how you were telling, That heaven refided where grace had its dwelling.

"

Why John, quoth the teacher,that's true: But, alas! What heaven can do is quite out of the cafe; For, by day and by night, with the woman you wed, 'Tis you that muft board, and 'tis you that muft bed; And a good-natur'd girl may quickly grow gracious, But a four-headed faint will be ever vexatious.

MADNESS

MADNESS.

WELL the clarion, fweep the string,
Blow into rage the mufe's fires!
All thy anfwers, Echo, bring,

Let wood and dale, let rock and valley ring,
'Tis madnefs felf infpires.

Hail, awful Madness, hail!

Thy realm extends, thy powers prevail,
Far as the voyager fpreads his 'ventrous fail.
Nor beft nor wifeft are exempt from thee;
Folly Folly's only free.
Hark!

to the astonish'd ear

The gale conveys a strange tumultuous found.
They now approach, they now appear,-
Phrenzy leads her chorus near,
And demons dance around.-

Pride Ambition idly vain,
Revenge, and Malice fwell her train, -
Devotion warp'd-Affection croft-
Hope in Disappointment loft-
And injur'd merit with a downcast eye,
(Hurt by neglect) flow stalking heedlefs by.

Loud the fhouts of Madness rise,
Various voices, various cries,-
Mirth unmeaning-caufelefs moans,
Burfts of laughter,-heart-felt groans -
All feem to pierce the fkies.

Сс

Rough

« הקודםהמשך »