Frae this, lat gentler gabs1 a lesson lear: Wad they to labouring lend an eident hand, Nor drogs their noddle and their sense confound, Till death slip sleely on, an' gie the hindmost wound. On sicken food has mony a doughty deed By Caledonia's ancestors been done; By this did mony a wight fu' weirlike bleed In brulzies frae the dawn to set o' sun. 'Twas this that braced their gardies' stiff an' strang; That bent the deadly yew in ancient days; Laid Denmark's daring sons on yirdR alang ; Gar'd Scotish thristles bang the Roman bays; For near our crest their heads they dought na raise. The couthy cracks begin whan supper's owre; How Jock woo'd Jenny here to be his bride; Palates.-2 Assiduous.-3 Foretell. -4 In contests.-5 Arms. 6 Earth.-7 Pleasant talk. The cup.-9 Chat.-10 Destroy the produce of their farms. Upo' the cutty-stool was forced to ride; The fient a cheep''s amang the bairnies now; Grumble an' greet, an' mak an unco maen3. Frae gudame's mouth auld warld tales they hear, O' warlocks loupin round the wirrikow 5: O' ghaists, that win in glen an kirkyard drear, Whilk touzles a' their tap, an' gars them shake wi' fear! For weel she trows, that fiends an' fairies be An' corn been scowder'd on the glowin' kiln. O mock nae this, my friends! but rather mourn, Ye in life's brawest spring wi' reason clear; Wi' eild 10 our idle fancies a' return, And dim our dolefu' days wi' bairnly" fear; The mind's ay cradled whan the grave is near. Yet Thrift, industrious, bides her latest days, Though Age her sair-dow'd front wi'runcles wave; Not a whimper. 5 Scare-crow. -6 Abide. Moan.-3 Circles.-4 Grandame.7 Entice.. -8 Lost.-9 Scorched. 10 Age. Childish. Yet frae the russet lap the spindle plays; Her e'enin stent1 reels she as weel's the laveo. On some feast-day, the wee things buskit braw, Shall heese her heart up wi' a silent joy, Fu' cadgie that her head was up an' saw Her ain spun cleedin' on a darlin' oy3;. .. Careless though death shou'd mak the feast her foy, In its auld lerroch' yet the deas remains, Frae him the lads their mornin' counsel tak: 11 What stacks he wants to thrash; what rigs to till; How big a birn 12 maun lie on bassie's 13 back, For meal an' mu'ter 14 to the thirlin' mill... Niest, the gudewife her hirelin' damsels bids Glowr through the byre, an' see the hawkies 15 bound; 1 Task. The rest.-3 Grandchild.-4 Her farewell entertainment.-5 Corner.-6 Bench.-7 Stretches.-8 The cat.-9 Young cheese.-10 Loaf.-11 To taste.-12 Burthen.-13 The horse.14 The miller's perquisite.-15 Cows. Tak tent, case Crummy tak her wonted tids', Then a' the house for sleep begin to green', Their joins to slack frae industry a while; The leaden god fa's heavy on their een, An' hafflins steeks them frae their daily toil: The cruizy, too, can only blink and bleer; The restit ingle's done the maist it dow; Upo' the cod' to clear their drumly pow, Peace to the husbandman, an a' his tribe, Whase care fells a' our wants frae year to year! Lang may his sock and cou'ter turn the gleyb®, An' banks o' corn bend down wi' laded ear! May Scotia's simmers ay look gay an' green; Her yellow haʼrsts frae scowry blasts decreed! May a' her tenants sit fu' snug an' bien, Frae the hard grip o' ails, and poortith freed; An'a lang lasting train o' peacefu' hours succeed! Fits. The milk-pail.-3 To long. The lamp.-5 Pillow.• Thick heads. Ploughshare.-8 Soil,-9 Comfortable. THOMAS SCOTT. BORN 17-. DIED 17 FROM LYRIC POEMS, DEVOTIONAL AND MORAL. LONDON, 1773. GOVERNMENT OF THE MIND. IMPERIAL Reason, hold thy throne, Enchanting order! Peace how sweet! Blest self-command, thy power I greet, The hero's laurel fades; the fame |