The sweet enchantin' theme shall be, Her braid an' lang extended vales Are clad wi' corn, a' wavin' yellow; Her flocks an' herds crown a' her hills; Her woods resound wi' music mellow. Her waters pastime sweet afford To ane an' a' wha like to angle; The seats o' mony a laird an' lord, Her plains, as stars the sky, bespangle. In ilka town an' village gay, Hark! Thrift her wheel an' loom are usin'; While to an' frae each port anʼ bay, See wealthy Commerce briskly cruisin'. Her maids are frugal, modest, fair, Whase heart wi' virt'ous love is glowin'. In peace, her sons like lammies mild, May auld an' young ha'e meat an' claes; An' may the sun to latest days See Fife an' a' her bairnies canty. Fife, an' a' the land about it, May health an' peace an' plenty glad Fair Fife, an' a' the land about it. MAGGIE LAUDER. HA wadna be in love WHA Alexander Douglas. Wi' bonnie Maggie Lauder? A piper met her gaun to Fife, And speired what was 't they ca'd her. "Maggie," quo' he, "and by my bags, "Piper," quo' Meg, "hae ye your bags, If ye be Rob, I've heard of you, Live you upo' the Border? Hae heard o' Rob the Ranter; I'll shake my foot with right gude-will, Then to his bags he flew wi' speed, "Weel hae you played your part," quo' Meg; 'Your cheeks are like the crimson; There's name in Scotland plays sae weel Since we lost Habbie Simpson. I've lived in Fife, baith maid and wife, Gin' ye should come to Anster Fair, Speir ye for Maggie Lauder." Francis Semple. MAGGIE LAUDER. THESE stanzas are an appropriate addition to the well-known song of 'Maggie Lauder," composed by Francis Semple, about 1660. HE cantie Spring scarce reared her head, THE And Winter yet did blaud her, When the Ranter came to Anster Fair, And speired for Maggie Lauder; Its shelter kindly lent her; Wi' canty ingle, clean hearthstane, Meg welcomed Rob the Ranter! Then Rob made bonnie Meg his bride, He played the auld "East Nook o' Fife," That Hab himsel' ne'er played a spring, For a' the talk and loud reports And since the marriage-knot was tied, Rob swears he couldna want her; And Meg loves Rob the Ranter. Charles Gray. Forth, the River. THE FORTH. UT where the Forth's broad river sweeps the plain, Yet nobler scenes unfold, a crowded port, The dark blue Frith, where many a whitened sail Here gray with rocks, there softening into green; Anonymous. Foyers (Fyers), the River. VERSES WRITTEN WHILE STANDING BY THE FALL OF FYERS, NEAR LOCH NESS. A floods; MONG the heathy hills and ragged woods Where, through a shapeless breach, his stream resounds. As deep recoiling surges foam below; Prone down the rock the whitening sheet descends, |