John o' Badenyon.
[Written to an old Highland strathspey, called John o' Badenyon, by the Rev. John Skinner.]
When first I came to be a man, of twenty years, or so,
I thought myself a handsome youth, and fain the world would know;
In best attire I stept abroad, with spirits brisk and gay;
And here, and there, and every where, was like a morn in May.
So care I had, no fear of want, but rambled up and down;
And for a beau I might have pass'd in country or in town:
I still was pleased where'er I went; and, when I was alone,
I tuned my pipe, and pleased myself wi' John o' Badenyon.
Now in the days of youthful prime, a mistress I must find;
For love, they say, gives one an air, and ev'n improves the mind
On Phillis fair, above the rest, kind fortune fix'd mine eyes;
Her piercing beauty struck my heart and she became my choice.
To Cupid, now, with hearty prayer, I offer'd many a vow,
And danced and sung, and sigh'd and swore, as other lovers do,
But when at last I breathed my flame, I found her cold as stone—
I left the girl, and tuned my pipe to John o' Badenyon.
When love had thus my heart beguiled with foolish hopes and vain,
To friendship's port I steer'd my course, and laugh'd at lovers' pain:
A friend I got by lucky chance—'twas something like divine;
An honest friend's a precious gift, and such a gift was mine.
And now, whatever may betide, a happy man was I,
In any strait I knew to whom I freely might apply.
A strait soon came; my friend I tried—he laugh'd, and spurn'd my moan;
I hied me home, and tuned my pipe to John o' Badenyon.
I thought I should be wiser next, and would a patriot turn,
Began to doat on Johnie Wilkes, and cry'd up parson Horne;
Their noble spirit I admir'd, and praised their noble zeal,
Who had, with flaming tongue and pen, maintain'd the public weal.
But, e'er a month or two had pass'd, I found myself betray'd;
'Twas Self and Party, after all, for all the stir they made.
At last I saw these factious knaves insult the very throne;
I cursed them all, and tuned my pipe to John o' Badenyon.
What next to do I mused a while, still hoping to succeed;
I pitch'd on books for company, and gravely tried to read:
I bought and borrowed every where, and studied night and day,
Nor miss'd what dean or doctor wrote, that happen'd in my way.
Philosophy I now esteem'd the ornament of youth,
And carefully, through many a page, I hunted after truth:
A thousand various schemes I tried, and yot was pleased with none;
I throw them by, and tuned my pipe to John o' Badenyon.
And now, ye youngsters everywhere, who wish to make a show,
Take heed in time, nor vainly hope for happiness below;
What you may fancy pleasure here is but an empty name;
