Yet gleg-eyed friends throw the disguife
Receiv'd it as a dainty prize,

For a' it was fae hav'ren.

Gart Lintot take it to his press,
And clead it in a braw new dress,
Syne took it to the tavern.

But tho' it was made clean and braw,
Sae fair it had been knoited,

*

It blather'd buff before them a',

And aftentimes turn'd doited.

It griev'd me, and reav'd me
Of kindly sleep and rest,
By carlings and gorling

To be fae fair opprest.

Wherefore to you, ne'er kend to guide ill,
But wifely had the good town's bridle,
My cafe I plainly tell;

And, as your ain †, plead I may have

Your word of weight, when now I crave
To guide my gear myfel.

Then

Spoke nonfenfe, from words being wanting, and many wrong fpelled and changed, fuch as gras for gars, praise for phrafe, &c.

+ A free citizen.

To interpofe their juft authority in my favour, and grant me an act to ward off thofe little pirates; of which act I gratefully acknowledge the receipt.

Then clean and fair the type shall be,
The paper like the fnaw,

Nor fhall our town think fhame wi' me,

When we gang far awa.

What's wanted, if granted,

Beneath your honour'd wing,

Baith hantily and cantily

Your fupplicant fhall fing *.

*There being abundance of their petitioners who daily

oblige themselves to pray.

1721.

THE PETITION TO THE WHIN-BUSH CLUB *.

Of Crawfurd-Moor, born in Leadhill †,
Where min'ral fprings Glengoner fill,
Which joins fweet-flowing Clyde,
Between auld Crawfurd-Lindfay's towers,
And where Deneetne rapid pours

His ftream thro' Glotta's tide;

Native of Clydesdale's upper ward,
Bred fifteen fummers there,
Tho', to my lofs, I am nae laird,
By birth, my title 's fair;

Το

*This club confifts of Clydefdalefhire gentlemen, who fre quently meet at a diverting hour, and keep up a good under ftanding amongst themfelves over a friendly bottle. And, from a charitable principle, eafily collect into their treasurer's box a fmall fund, which has many a time relieved the diftreffes of indigent perfons of that fire.

In the parish of Crawfurd-Moor, famous for the lead and gold mines belonging to the earl of Hoptoun.

The name of a small river, which takes its rife from the Leadhills, and enters Clyde between the caftle of Crawfurd and the mouth of Deneetne, another of the branches of Clyde.

To bend wi' ye, and spend wi' ye

An ev'ning, and gaffaw,

If merit and fpirit

Be found without a flaw.

Since dously ye do nought at random,
Then take my bill to Avisandum;
And if there 's nae objection,

I'll deem 't my honour, and be glad,
To come beneath your Whin-bush shade,
And claim from it protection,

If frae the caverns of a head

That's bofs, a storm should blaw,
Etling wi' fpite to rive my reed,
And give my muse a fa’,
When poring and foaring

O'er Heliconian heights,

She traces these places
Where Cynthius delights.

SPOKEN TO ÆOLUS,

IN THE HOUSE OF MARLEFIELD,

ON THE NIGHT OF A VIOLENT WIND.

WHY on this bow'r, bluff-cheeked god,
Sacred to Phoebus, and th' abode
Of Bennet *, his much-dauted fon,
Say, wherefore makes thou all this din,
In dead of night ?—Heh! like a kow,
To fuff at winnocks and cry Wow!-
I have it now,-Juno has feen
The fair Bennetas tread the green,
And them for bairns of Venus' guest,

Sae fends thee to difturb their rest.

Pray wauk

your body, if

you please, Gae gowl and tooly on the feas;

Thou wants the pith to do them harm;
Within we 're fafe, and fnug, and warm,

Kindly refresh'd with healthfu' fleep,
While to my cod my pow I keep,
Canty and cofiely I lye,

And baith thy bursten cheeks defy.

* Sir William Bennet, who lived at Marlefield.