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ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FINTRY,

ON RECEIVING A FAVOUR.

I CALL no goddess to inspire my strains,
A fabled Muse may suit a bard that feigns;
Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns,
And all the tribute of my heart returns,
For boons accorded, goodness ever new,
The gift still dearer, as the giver you.

Thou orb of day! thou other paler light!
And all ye many sparkling stars of night;
If aught that giver from my mind efface;
If I that giver's bounty e'er disgrace;

Then roll to me, along your wand'ring spheres,
Only to number out a villain's years!

EPITAPH ON A FRIEND.

AN honest man here lies at rest,
As e'er God with his image blest;
The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

A GRACE BEFORE DINNER.

O THOU, who kindly dost provide
For every creature's want!

We bless thee, God of Nature wide,
For all thy goodness lent:

And, if it please thee, Heavenly Guide,
May never worse be sent;

But whether granted, or denied,

Lord, bless us with content!

Amen!

ON SENSIBILITY.

TO MY DEAR AND MUCH HONOURED FRIEND, MRS. DUNLOP, OF DUNLOP.

SENSIBILITY, how charming,

Thou, my friend, canst truly tell;
But distress with horrors arming,
Thou hast also known too well!

Fairest flower, behold the lily,
Blooming in the sunny ray:
Let the blast sweep o'er the valley,
See it prostrate on the clay.

Hear the wood-lark charm the forest,

Telling o'er his little joys;

Hapless bird! a prey the surest

To each pirate of the skies.

Dearly bought the hidden treasure,
Finer feelings can bestow;
Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasure
Thrill the deepest notes of woe.

A VERSE

Composed and repeated by Burns, to the Master of the House, on taking leave at a place in the Highlands, where he had been hospitably entertained.

WHEN death's dark stream I ferry o'er,
A time that surely shall come;
In Heaven itself, I'll ask no more,
Than just a Highland welcome.

RELIQUES OF BURNS.

VERSES WRITTEN AT SELKIRK.

AULD chuckie Reekie's sair distrest
Down droops her ance weel burnish't crest,
Nae joy her bonnie buskit nest

Can yield ava,

O Willie was a witty wight,
And had o' things an unco slight;
Auld Reekie aye he keepit tight,

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An' trig an' braw: But now they'll busk her like a fright,

Willie's awa!

.III.

The stiffest o' them a' he bow'd;
The bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;

They durst nae mair than he allow'd,

That was a law:

We've lost a birkie weel worth gowd,
Willie's awa!

IV.

Now gawkies, tawpies, gowks, and fools,
Frae colleges and boarding-schools,
May sprout like simmer puddock-stools
In glen or shaw;

He wha could brush them down to mools,
Willie's awa!

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V.

The brethren o' the Commerce-Chaumer May mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour; He was a dictionar and grammar

Amang them a';

I fear they'll now mak mony a stammer,

Willie's awa!

VI.

Nae mair we see his levee door
Philosophers and Poets pour,
And toothy critics by the score,

In bloody raw!

The adjutant o' a' the core,

Willie's awa!

VII.

Now worthy Gregory's latin face,
Tytler's and Greenfield's modest grace;
M'Kenzie, Stuart, such a brace

As Rome ne'er saw;

They a' maun meet some ither place,

Willie's awa!