Nae hair-brain'd sentimental traces In your unletter'd, nameless faces! In arioso trills and graces Ye never stray,! But gravissimo, solemn basses Ye hum away. Ye are sae grave, nae doubt ye're wise, Nae ferly tho' ye do despise The hairum-scairum, ram-stam boys, I see you upward cast your eyes Ye ken the road. Whilst I--but I shall haud me there Wi' I'll scarce gang ony where you Then, Jamie, I shall say nae mair, But quat my sang, Content wi' you, to mak a pair, Whare'er I gang. A DREA M. Thoughts, words, and deeds, the statute blames with reason ; But surely dreams were ne'er indicted treason. [On reading, in the public papers, the Laureat's Ode, with the other parade of June 4, 1786, the author was no sooner dropt asleep, than he imagined himself transported to the birthday levee; and in his dreaming fancy, made the following Address.] I. GUID-MORNIN to your Majesty! My bardship here, at your levee, Is sure an uncouth sight to see, Sae fine this day. II. I see ye're complimented thrang, By mony a lord and lady, 'God save the king !''s a cuckoo sang That's unco easy said ay; The poets, too, a venal gang, Wi' rhymes weel-turn'd and ready, Wad gar you trow ye ne'er do wrang, But ay unerring steady, On sic a day. HI. For me! before a monarch's face, And aiblins ane been better Than you this day. IV. 'Tis very true, my sovereign king, Your royal nest, beneath your wing, Than did ae day. V. Far be't frae me that I aspire But, faith! I muckle doubt, my Sire, To chaps, wha in a barn or byre Wad better fill their station Than courts yon day." VI. And now ye've gien auld Britain peace, Till she has scarce a tester; Or, faith! I fear, that wi' the geese, I shortly boost to pasture I' the craft some day. VII. I'm no mistrusting Willie Pitt, When taxes he enlarges, (An' Will's a true guid fallow's get, A name not envy spairges) An' boats this day. VIII. Adieu, my Liege! may Freedom geck Beneath your high protection; And may ye rax Corruption's neck, But since I'm here, I'll no neglect To pay your Queen, with due respect,. My fealty an' subjection This great birth-day. IX.. Hail Majesty, Most Excellent! While nobles strive to please ye, Will ye accept a compliment A simple poet gies ye? Thae bonnie bairn time, Heav'n has lent, For ever to release ye Frae care thst day.. X. For you, young potentate o' W I tell your Highness fairly, Down Pleasure's stream, wi' swelling sails, I'm tauld ye're driving rarely; But some day ye may gnaw your nails, That e'er ye brak Diana's pales, Or rattl'd dice wi' Charlie, By night or day. XI. Yet aft a ragged cowte's been known To mak a noble aiver; |