Your ruin'd, formless bulk o' stane an' lime, Compare wi' bonnie Brigs o' modern time? There's men o' taste would tak the Ducat-stream1, Tho' they should cast the very sark and swim, Ere they would grate their feelings wi' the view O'sic an ugly Gothic hulk as you.
Conceited gowk! puff'd up wi' windy pride! This mony a year I've stood the flood an' tide; And tho' wi' crazy eild I'm sair forfairn,` I'll be a Brig, when ye're a shapeless cairn! As yet ye little ken about the matter, But twa-three winters will inform ye better. When heavy, dark, continued, a'-day rains, Wi' deepening deluges o'erflow the plains; When from the hills where springs the brawling Or stately Lugar's mossy fountains boil, [Coil, Or where the Greenock winds his moorland course, Or haunted Garpals draws his feeble source, Arous'd by blust'ring winds an' spotting thowes, In mony a torrent down his sna-broo rowes; While crashing ice, borne on the roaring spate, Sweeps dams, an' mills, an' brigs, a' to the gate; And from Glenbuck, down to the Ratton-key', Auld Ayr is just one lengthen'd, tumbling sea; Then down ye'll hurl, deil nor ye never rise! And dash the gumlie jaups up to the pouring skies.
A noted ford, just above the Auld Brig.
5 The banks of Garpal Water is one of the few places in the west of Scotland, where those fancy-scaring beings, known by the name of Ghaists, still continue pertinaciously to inhabit.
6 The source of the river Ayr.
7 A small landing place above the large key.
A lesson sadly teaching, to your cost,
That Architecture's noble art is lost!
Fine Architecture, trowth, I needs must say't
o't!
The Lord be thankit that we've tint the gate o't!
Gaunt, ghastly, ghaist-alluring edifices,
Hanging wi' threat'ning jut, like precipices;
Owre arching, mouldy, gloom-inspiring coves,
Supporting roofs fantastic, stony groves:
Windows and doors, in nameless sculpture drest,
Wi' order, symmetry, or taste unblest;
Forms like some bedlam statuary's dream,
The craz'd creations o' misguided whim;
Forms might be worshipp'd on the bended knee,
And still the second dread command be free,
Their likeness is not found on earth, in air, or sea.
Mansions that would disgrace the building taste
O' ony mason reptile, bird or beast;
Fit only for a doited monkish race,
Or frosty maids forsworn the dear embrace,
Or Cuifs o' later times, wha held the notion
That sullen gloom was sterling true devotion;
Fancies that our guid Brugh denies protection,
And soon may they expire,unblest wi' resurrection!
O ye, my dear-remember'd, ancient yealings, Were ye but here to share my wounded feelings! Ye worthy Proveses, an' mony a Bailie,
Wha in the paths o' righteousness did toil aye; Ye dainty Deacons, and ye douce Conveeners, To whom our moderns are but causey-cleaners;
Ye godly Councils wha hae blest this town;
Ye godly Brethren o' the sacred gown,
Wha meekly gie your hurdies to the smiters;
And (what would now be strange) ye godly
Writers:
A' ye
douce folk I've borne aboon the broo,
Were ye but here, what would ye say or do?
How would your spirits groan in deep vexation,
To see each melancholy alteration;
And agonizing, curse the time and place
When ye begat the base, degen'rate race!
Nae langer Rev'rend Men, their country's glory,
In plain braid Scots hold forth a plain braid story!
Nae länger thrifty Citizens, an' douce,
Meet owre a pint, or in the Council-house;
But staumrel, corky headed, graceless Gentry,
The herryment and ruin o' the country;
Men, three-parts made by Tailors and by Barbers, Wha waste your weel-hain'd gear on damn'd new Brigs and Harbours!
Now haud you there! for faith ye've said enough,
And muckle mair than ye can mak to through;
As for your priesthood, I shall say but little,
Corbies and Clergy are a shot right kittle:
But, under favour o' your langer beard,
Abuse o' Magistrates might weel be spar'd:
To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say, comparisons are odd.
In Ayr, Wag-wits nae mair can hae a handle
To mouth a Citizen,' a term o' scandal:
Nae mair the Council waddles down the street,
In a' the pomp o' ignorant conceit;
Men wha grew wise priggin owre hops an' raisins,
Or gather'd lib'ral views in Bonds and Seisins.
If haply Knowledge, on a random tramp,
Had shor'd them wi' a glimmer o' his lamp,
And would to Common-sense for ance betray'd
them,
Plain, dull Stupidity stept kindly in to aid them.
What farther clishmaclaver might been said,
What bloody wars, if Sprites had blood to shed,
Nae man can tell; but a' before their sight
A fairy-train appear'd in order bright:
Adown the glittering stream they featly danc'd;
Bright to the moon their various dresses glanc'd:
They footed owre the wat'ry glass so neat,
The infant ice scarce bent beneath their feet:
While arts of Minstrelsy among them rung,
And soul-ennobling Bards heroic ditties sung.
O had McLauchlan, thairm-inspiring Sage,
Been there to hear this heavenly band engage,
When thro' his dear Strathspeys they bore with
Highland rage,
Or when they struck auld Scotia's melting airs,
The lover's raptur'd joys or bleeding cares;
How would his Highland lug been nobler fir'd,
And ev'n his matchless hand with finer touch
inspir'd!
No guess could tell what instrument appear'd,
But all the soul of Music's self was heard;
Harmonious concert rung in every part,
While simple melody pour'd moving on the heart.
The Genius of the Stream in front appears,
A venerable Chief advanc'd in years;
A wellknown performer of Scottish music on the violin.
His hoary head with water-lilies crown'd,
His manly leg with garter tangle bound..
Next came the loveliest pair in all the ring,
Sweet Female Beauty hand in hand with Spring;
Then, crown'd with flow'ry hay, came Rural Joy,
And Summer, with his fervid beaming eye:
All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn,
Led yellow Autumn wreath'd with nodding corn;
Then Winter's time-bleach'd locks did hoary show,
By Hospitality with cloudless brow;
Next follow'd Courage with his martial stride,
From where the Feal wild-woody coverts hide;
Benevolence, with mild, benignant air,
A female form, came from the tow'rs of Stair: Learning and Worth in equal measures trode From simple Catrine, their long-lov'd abode : Last, white-rob'd Peace, crown'd with a hazel To rustic Agriculture did bequeath [wreath,
The broken iron instruments of death; At sight of whom our Sprites forgat their kindling wrath.
For sense they little owe to frugal Heav'n-
To please the Mob they hide the little giv'n.
KILMARNOCK Wabsters fidge an' claw,
An' pour your creeshie nations;
ye O' a' denominations,
wha leather rax an' draw,
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