The lov'd Southesk.-Neist, Sir, you name;
I give you Bafil's handsome dame.
Is 't come to me? then toast the fair
That 's fawn, O Cockburn, to thy skair.
How hearty went these healths about!
How blythly were they waughted out!
To a' the stately, fair, and young,
Frae Haddington and Hopton fprung;
To Lithgow's daughter in her bloom,
To dear Mackay, and comely Home;
To Creightons every way divine,
To Haldane ftreight as any pine.
O how delicious was the glafs
Which was perfum'd with lovely Befs!
And fae these rounds were flowing gi'en,
To fifters Nifbet, Nell, and Jean;
To fweet Montgomery fhining fair;
To Prieftfield twins, delightfu' pair;
To Katies four of beauteous fame,
Stuart and Cochran lady claim,
Third Hamilton, fourth Ardress name;
To Peggies Pentland, Bang, and Bell;
To Minto's mate, and lively Nell;
To Gordons ravishingly sweet;
To Maule, in whom the graces meet;
To Hepburn, wha has charms in store;
To Pringle, harmony all o'er;
To the polite Kinloch and Hay;
To Wallace, beautifu' and gay;
To Campbell, Skeen, and Rutherfoord;
To Maitland fair, the much ador'd;
To Lockhart with the sparkling een;
To bonny Crawford ever green;
To Stuarts mony a dazzling bairn,
Of Invernytie and Denairn;
To gracefu' Sleigh and Oliphant ;
To Nasmith, Baird, Scot, Grier, and Grant;
To Clerk, Anstruther, Frank, and Graham;
To Deans, agreeing with her name.
Where are we now?-Come, to the best
In Christendom, and a' the rest.
Dear nymphs unnam'd, lay not the blame
On us, or on your want of fame,
That in this lift you do not stand;
For heads give way :-but there's my hand,
The neift time we have fic a night,
We 'll not neglect to do ye right.
Thus beauties rare, and virgins fine, With blooming belles, enliven'd our wine, Till a' our noses 'gan to fhine.
Then down we look'd upon the great,
Who 're plagu'd with guiding of the state;
And pity'd each phlegmatic wight,
Whofe creeping fauls ken nae delight,
But keept themselves ay on the gloom,
Startled with fears of what 's to come.
Poor paffion! fure by fate defign'd
The mark of an inferior mind:
To Heav'n a filial fear we awe,
But fears nane else a man fhould fhaw.
Lads, cock your bonnets, bend your bows, And, or in earnest, or in mows,
Be ftill fuccessful, ever glad,
In Mars's or in Venus' bed;
Sae bards aloud shall chaunt your praise,
And ladies fhall your fpirits raife.
Thus, Sir, I've fung what you requir'd,
As Mars and Venus have infpir'd:
While they inspire, and you approve,
I'll fing brave deeds, and fafter love,
Till great Apollo fay, "Well done!"
And own me for his native fon.
MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ANTIQUARIES.
To Hartford, and his learned friends,
Whase fame for science far extends,
A Scotish mufe her duty fends,
From Pictish towers:
Health, length of days, and happy ends,
Be ever yours.
Your gen❜rous cares make light arise
From things obfcure to vulgar eyes,
Finding where hidden knowledge lies,
T'improve the mind;
And most delightfully surprise,
With thoughts refin'd.
When you the broke inscription read,
Or amongst antique ruins tread,
And view remains of princes dead,
In funeral piles,
Your penetration feems decreed
To bless these isles.
Where Romans form'd their camps of old,
The gods and urns of curious mould,
Their medals ftruck of brafs or gold,
'Tis you can show,
And truth of what 's in story told,
To you we owe.
How beneficial is the care
That brightens up the claffic lear! you the documents compare With authors old,
You ravish, when we can fo fair
Your light behold.
Without your comments, each old book
By all the world would be forfook:
For who of thought would deign to look
On doubtful works,
Till by your skilful hands they 're struck
With sterling marks ?
|