Critics-appall'd, I venture on the name, Those cut-throat bandits in the paths of fame: Bloody dissectors, worse than ten Monroes; He hacks to teach, they mangle to expose. His heart by causeless wanton malice wrung, By blockhead's daring into madness stung ; His well-won bays, than life itself more dear, By miscreants torn, who ne'er one sprig must wear: Foil'd, bleeding, tortur'd, in the unequal strife, Till fled each hope that once his bosom fir'd, So, by some hedge, the gen'rous steed deceas'd, For half-starv'd snarling curs a dainty feast ; By toil and famine wore to skin and bone, Lies senseless of each tugging bitch's son. O dulness! portion of the truly blest! If mantling high she fills the golden cup, Conscious the bounteous meed they well deserve, Not so the idle muses' mad-cap train, Not such the workings of their moon-struck brain; In equanimity they never dwell, By turns in soaring heav'n, or vaulted hell. I dread thee, fate, relentless and severe, Thro' Thro' a long life his hopes and wishes crown, And bright in cloudless skies his sun go down! May bliss domestic smooth his private path ; Give energy to life; and soothe his latest breath, With many a filial tear circling the bed of death! LAMENT LAMENT FOR JAMES EARL OF GLENCAIRN. THE wind blew hollow frae the hills, That wav'd o'er Lugar's winding stream: Beneath a craigy steep, a bard, Laden with years and meikle pain, In loud lament bewail'd his lord, Whom death had all untimely ta'en. He He lean'd him to an ancient aik, Whose trunk was mould'ring down with years; His locks were bleached white with time, "Ye scatter'd birds that faintly sing, 66 "But nocht in all revolving time "Can gladness bring again to me. "I am a bending aged tree, "That long has stood the wind and rain ; "But now has come a cruel blast, "And my last hald of earth is gane; "Nae leaf o' mine shall greet the spring, "Nae simmer sun exalt my bloom; "But I maun lie before the storm, "And ithers plant them in my room. "I've seen sae mony changefu' years, "On earth I am a stranger grown; VOL. III. Y "I wander |