POETICAL INSCRIPTION,

FOR

AN ALTAR TO INDEPENDENCE,

At Kerrouchtry, the seat of Mr. Heron, written in Summer 1795.

THOU of an independent mind
With soul resolved, with soul resigned;
Prepar'd power's proudest frown to brave,
Who wilt not be, nor have a slave ;
Virtue alone who dost revere,

Thy own reproach alone dost fear,
Approach this shrine, and worship here.

VOL. IV.

Bb

SONNET

No more, ye warblers of the wood, no more,
Nor pour your descant grating on my ear :
Thou young-eyed spring, thy charms I cannot bear;
More welcome were to me grim winter's wildest roar.

How can ye please, ye flowers, with all your dies?
Ye blow upon the sod that wraps my friend :
How can I to the tuneful strain attend?

That strain pours round th' untimely tomb where
Riddel lies.*

MONODY,

* Robert Riddel, Esq. of Friars' Carse, a very worthy character, and one to whom our bard thought himself under many obligations.

E.

MONODY,

ON A LADY FAMED FOR HER CAPRICE.

How cold is that bosom which folly once fired,
How pale is that cheek where the rouge lately glistened;
How silent that tongue which the echoes oft tired,
How dull is that ear which to flattery so listened.

If sorrow and anguish their exit await,

From friendship and dearest affection removed; How doubly severer, Eliza, thy fate,

Thou diedst unwept as thou livedst unloved.

Loves, graces and virtues, I call not on you;
So shy, grave and distant, ye shed not a tear :
all ye offspring of folly so true,

But come,

And flowers let us cull for Eliza's cold bier.

We'll search through the garden for each silly flower, We'll roam through the forest for each idle weed; But chiefly the nettle so typical, shower,

For none e'er approached her but rued the rash deed.

We'll sculpture the marble, we'll measure the lay;
Here vanity strums on her idiot lyre;

There keen indignation shall dart on her prey,
Which spurning contempt shall redeem from his ire.

THE EPITAPH.

Here lies, now a prey to insulting neglect,

What once was a butterfly gay in life's beam :
Want only of wisdom denied her respect,
Want only of goodness denied her esteem.

Answer

Answer to a mandate sent by the Surveyor of the windows, carriages, &c. to each farmer, ordering him to send a signed list of his horses, servants, wheel-carriages, &c. and whether he was a married man or a bachelor, and what children they had.

SIR, as your mandate did request,
I send you here a faithfu' list,
My horses, servants, carts and graith,
To which I'm free to tak my aith.

Imprimis, then, for carriage cattle,
I hae four brutes o' gallant mettle,
As ever drew before a pettle.
My hand-afore,* a guid auld has-been,
And wight and wilfu' a' his days seen;

My

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* The fore-horse on the left hand, in the plough.