THE POEMS OF BURNS.
71
LYING AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE ONE NIGHT.
THE AUTHOR LEFT THE FOLLOWING VERSES IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SLEPT.
O Thou dread Pow'r, who reign'st above,
I know Thou wilt me hear;
When for this scene of peace and love,
I make my pray'r sincere.
I know Thou wilt me hear;
When for this scene of peace and love,
I make my pray'r sincere.
The hoary sire—the mortal stroke,
Long, long, be pleas'd to spare;
To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.
Long, long, be pleas'd to spare;
To bless his little filial flock,
And show what good men are.
She, who her lovely offspring eyes
With tender hopes and fears,
O, bless her with a mother's joys,
But spare a mother's tears!
With tender hopes and fears,
O, bless her with a mother's joys,
But spare a mother's tears!
Their hope, their stay, their darling youth,
In manhood's dawning blush;
Bless him, thou God of love and truth
Up to a parent's wish.
In manhood's dawning blush;
Bless him, thou God of love and truth
Up to a parent's wish.
The beauteous, seraph sister-band,
With earnest tears I pray,
Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand,
Guide Thou their steps alway.
With earnest tears I pray,
Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand,
Guide Thou their steps alway.
When soon or late they reach that coast,
O'er life's rough ocean driven,
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,
A family in Heaven!
O'er life's rough ocean driven,
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost,
A family in Heaven!
THE FIRST SIX VERSES OF THE NINETIETH PSALM.
O Thou, the first, the greatest friend
Of all the human race!
Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling-place!
Of all the human race!
Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling-place!
Before the mountains heav'd their heads
Beneath Thy forming hand,
Before this ponderous globe itself,
Arose at Thy command;
Beneath Thy forming hand,
Before this ponderous globe itself,
Arose at Thy command;
That pow'r which rais'd and still upholds
This universal frame,
From countless, unbeginning time
Was ever still the same.
This universal frame,
From countless, unbeginning time
Was ever still the same.
Those mighty periods of years
Which seem to us so vast,
Appear no more before Thy sight
That yesterday that's past.
Which seem to us so vast,
Appear no more before Thy sight
That yesterday that's past.
Thou giv'st the word; Thy creature, man,
Is to existence brought;
Again Thou say'st, 'Ye sons of men,
Return ye into nought!'
Is to existence brought;
Again Thou say'st, 'Ye sons of men,
Return ye into nought!'
Thou layest them, with all their cares,
In everlasting sleep;
As with a flood thou tak'st them off
With overwhelming sweep.
In everlasting sleep;
As with a flood thou tak'st them off
With overwhelming sweep.
They flourish like the morning flow'r,
In beauty's pride array'd;
But long ere night cut down it lies
All wither'd and decay'd.
In beauty's pride array'd;
But long ere night cut down it lies
All wither'd and decay'd.
