THE POEMS OF BURNS.
9
When wanting thee, what tuneless cranks
Are my poor verses!
Thou comes ——— they rattle i' their ranks
At ither's a—s!
Are my poor verses!
Thou comes ——— they rattle i' their ranks
At ither's a—s!
Thee, Ferintosh! O sadly lost!
Scotland, lament frae coast to coast!
Now colic-grips, an' barkin hoast,
May kill us a';
For loyal Forbes' charter'd boast
Is ta'en awa!
Scotland, lament frae coast to coast!
Now colic-grips, an' barkin hoast,
May kill us a';
For loyal Forbes' charter'd boast
Is ta'en awa!
Thae curst horse-leeches o' th' Excise,
Wha mak the Whisky Stells their prize!
Haud up thy han', Deil! ance, twice, thrice!
There, seize the blinkers!
An' bake them up in brunstane pies
For poor damn'd drinkers.
Wha mak the Whisky Stells their prize!
Haud up thy han', Deil! ance, twice, thrice!
There, seize the blinkers!
An' bake them up in brunstane pies
For poor damn'd drinkers.
Fortune! if thou'll but gie me still
Hale breeks, a scone, an' Whisky gill,
An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will,
Tak' a' the rest,
An' deal't about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.
Hale breeks, a scone, an' Whisky gill,
An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will,
Tak' a' the rest,
An' deal't about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.
THE AUTHOR'S EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND HONOURABLE THE SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Ye Irish Lords, ye Knights an' Squires,
Wha represent our brughs an' shires,
An' doucely manage our affairs
In Parliament,
To you a simple Bardie's prayers
Are humbly sent.
Wha represent our brughs an' shires,
An' doucely manage our affairs
In Parliament,
To you a simple Bardie's prayers
Are humbly sent.
Alas! my roupet Muse is hearse;
Your Honours' heart wi' grief 'twad pierce,
To see her sitten on her a—
Low i' the dust,
An' scriechin out prosaic verse,
An' like to brust!
Your Honours' heart wi' grief 'twad pierce,
To see her sitten on her a—
Low i' the dust,
An' scriechin out prosaic verse,
An' like to brust!
