A PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH O Thou unknown, Almighty Cause In Whose dread presence, ere an hour, If I have wandered in those paths Of life I ought to shun, As something loudly in my breast Remonstrates I have done, Thou know'st that Thou hast formèd me With passions wild and strong, 1781? 5 ΙΟ And list'ning to their witching voice Has often led me wrong. Where human weakness has come short, Or frailty stept aside, Do Thou, All Good-for such Thou art,- 15 In shades of darkness hide. Where with intention I have erred, No other plea I have But, Thou art good; and Goodness still Delighteth to forgive. 20 1786. 1784. MY NANIE, O Behind yon hills where Lugar flows, The westlin wind blaws loud an' shill, The night's baith mirk and rainy, O; My Nanie's charming, sweet, an' young; That wad beguile my Nanie, O. Our auld guidman delights to view His sheep an' kye thrive bonie, O; Come weel, come woe, I care na by; But live an' love my Nanie, O. 1787. ΙΟ 5 1784? MARY MORISON O Mary, at thy window be; It is the wished, the trysted hour! That make the miser's treasure poor! The lovely Mary Morison. Yestreen, when to the trembling string I sat, but neither heard or saw: I sighed, and said amang them a', O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace A thought ungentle canna be The thought o' Mary Morison. 5 IO 15 20 1800. THE HOLY FAIR Upon a simmer Sunday morn, The rising sun, owre Galston muirs, The hares were hirplin down the furs, Fu' sweet that day. There swankies young, in braw braid-claith, Are springin owre the gutters. The lasses, skelpin barefit, thrang, In silks an' scarlets glitter; 60 Wi' sweet-milk cheese in monie a whang, An' farls baked wi' butter, Fu' crump that day. 65 When by the plate we set our nose, Then in we go to see the show: On ev'ry side they 're gath'rin, Some carryin dails, some chairs an' stools, Right loud that day. Here some are thinkin on their sins, Ane curses feet that fyled his shins, On this hand sits a chosen swatch, Wi' screwed-up grace-proud faces; On that a set o' chaps at watch, Thrang winkin on the lasses To chairs that day. |