O' ftature short, but genius bright, That's he, mark weel And wow! he has an unco flight O' cauk and keel. By fome auld, houlet-haunted, biggin *, It's ten to ane ye'll find him fnug in Some eldritch part, Wi' deils, they fay, L-d fafe's! colleaguin At fome black art. Ilk ghaift that haunts auld ha' or chamer, And you deep read in hell's black grammar, Warlocks and witches; Ye'll quake at his conjuring hammer, Ye midnight bes. * Vide his Antiquities of Scotland. It's It's tauld he was a fodger bred, And ane wad rather fa'n than fled; But now he's quat the fpurtle-blade, And dog-fkin wallet, And taen the Antiquarian trade, I think they call it. He has a fouth o' auld nick-nackets: Rufty airn caps and jinglin jackets*, Wad haud the Lothians three in tackets, A towmont gude; And parritch-pats, and auld faut-backets, Of Eve's first fire he has a cinder; Auld Tubalcain's fire-fhool and fender; That * Vide his treatife on ancient armour and weapons. That which distinguished the gender A broom-stick o' the witch of Endor, Weel fhod wi' brass. Forbye, he'll shape you aff fu' gleg The cut of Adam's philibeg; The knife that nicket Abel's craig He'll prove you fully, It was a faulding jocteleg, Or lang-kail gullie. But wad ye fee him in his glee, For meikle glee and fun has he, Then fet him down, and twa or three Gude fellows wi' him; And port, O port! fhine thou a wee, And then ye'll see him! Now, Now, by the Pow'rs o' Verfe and Profe! Thou art a dainty chield, O Grose!Whae'er o' thee shall ill fuppofe, They fair mifca' thee; I'd take the rascal by the nofe, Wad fay, Shame fa' thee. ΤΟ то MISS C*********, a very young Lady. Written on the blank leaf of a Book, prefented to her by the Author. BEAUTEOUS rofe-bud, young and gay, Blooming on thy early May, Never may'st thou, lovely Flow'r, Chilly fhrink in fleety show'r! Never Boreas' hoary path, Never Eurus' pois'nous breath, Never baleful ftellar lights, Taint thee with untimely blights! |