"But wife and virtuous thought, in conftant

❝ course,

"Muft draw these beauties from their hidden

"fource;

"The smallest intermiffions will transform

"The pleasant scene, and spoil each perfect charm. "'Tis ugly vice will rob you of content, "And to your view all hellish woes prefent : "Nor grudge the care in virtue you employ, "Your present toil will prove your future joy." Then fmil'd fhe heav'nly fweet, and parting faid, "Hold faft your virtuous mind, of nothing be "afraid."

A while the charming voice fo fill'd my ears, I griev'd the divine form no more appears : Then to confirm my yet unfteady mind,

Under a lonely fhadow I reclin'd,

Το try

the virtues of the clime I fought; Then straight call'd up a train of hideous thought; Famine, and blood, and peftilence appear,

Wild fhrieks and loud laments difturb mine ear;
New woes and horrors did my fight alarm,
Envy and hate compofed the wretched charm.

Soon as I faw, I dropt the hateful view,

And thus I fought past pleasures to renew.
To heav'nly love my thoughts I next compose,
Then quick as thought the foll'wing fights disclose:

Streams,

Streams, meadows, grottos, groves, birds carrolling;
Calmness, and temp'rate warmth, and endless spring:
A perfect transcript of these upper bow'rs,
The habitation of th' immortal pow'rs.

Back to the palace ravished I went,
Refolved to refide with bleft content;

Where all my fpecial friends methought I met,
In order 'mongst the best of mankind set.
My foul, with too much pleasure, overcharg'd,
The captiv'd fenses to their poft enlarg❜d.
Lifting mine eyes, I view'd declining day,
Sprang from the green, and homeward bent my

way;

Reflecting on that hurry, pain, and strife,

Which flow from falfe and real ills of life.

1720.

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH'S SALUTATION

TO THE MARQUIS OF CARNARVON *.

WELCOME, my Lord: Heav'n be your guide,
And further your intention,
To whate'er place you fail or ride;
To brighten your invention.
The book of mankind lang and wide
Is well worth your attention;
Wherefore please fome time here abide,

And measure the dimenfion

Of minds right ftout.

O that ilk worthy British peer
Wad follow your example,

My auld grey head I yet wad rear,

And spread my fkirts mair ample.

Should

* The eldeft fon of his Grace the Duke of Chandois, who, in May 1720, was at Edinburgh, in his tour through Scotland.

Should London poutch up a' the gear
She might spare me a sample:
In troth his Highness should live here,
For without oil our lamp will

* ?

Gang blinkan out.

Lang fyne, my Lord, I had a court,
And nobles fill'd my cawfy;
But, fince I have been fortune's sport,
I look nae hawff fae gawfy.

Yet here brave gentlemen refort,

And mony a handsome laffy :

Now that you 're lodg'd within my port,

How well I wat they'll a' fay,

For you my

Welcome, my Lord.

best cheer I 'll produce,

I'll no mak muckle vaunting;

But routh for pleasure and for use,

Whate'er you may be wanting,
You 's hae at will to chap and chuse,
For few things am I fcant in;
The wale of well-fet ruby juice t,
When you like to be rantin,

I can afford.

Than

* Edinburgh too often complained, that the north of Britain is fo remote from the court, and fo rarely enjoys the influence of British ftars of the firft magnitude.

The most choice of fine claret.

Than I, nor Paris, nor Madrid,
Nor Rome, I trow 's mair able,
To busk you up a better bed,
Or trim a tighter table.
My fons are honourably bred,

*

To truth and friendship ftable: What my detracting faes have faid, You'll find a feigned fable,

At the first fight.

May claffic lear and letters belle,

And travelling confpire,

Ilk unjust notion to repel,

And godlike thoughts inspire; That in ilk action, wife and fnell, You may fhaw manly fire;

Sae the fair picture of himsel

Will give his Grace, your Sire,

Immenfe delight.

Thofe who from prejudice have reproached us with

being rude, inhofpitable, and falfe.