WRITTEN IN A WRAPPER. But her by thee is slighted, If thou hast met this fair one; But her, thou hast deserted, 185 WRITTEN IN A WRAPPER, ENCLOSING A LETTER TO CAPT. GROSE, TO BE LEFT WITH MR. CARDONNEL, ANTIQUARIAN. TUNE-Sir John Malcolm. KEN ye ought o' Captain Grose? If he's amang his friends or foes? Is he South, or is he North? Or drowned in the river Forth? Is he slain by Highland bodies? And eaten like a weather-haggis? Is he to Abram's bosom gane? Igo, & ago, Or haudin Sarah by the wame? Where'er he be, the Lord be near him! As for the deil, he daurna steer him. But please transmit th' enclosed letter, Which will oblige your humble debtor. So may ye hae auld stanes in store, The very stanes that Adam bore. So may ye get in glad possession, The coins o' Satan's coronation! Iram, coram, dago. THE DEAN OF FACULTY. A new Ballad. TUNE-The Dragon of Wantley. DIRE was the hate at old Harlaw THE DEAN OF FACULTY. But Scot with Scot ne'er met so hot, Or were more in fury seen, Sir, 187 Than 'twixt Hal and Bob for the famous job- This Hal for genius, wit, and lore, Yet simple Bob the victory got, Which shows that heaven can boil the pot, Squire Hal besides had, in this case, For talents to deserve a place Chose one who should owe it all, d'ye see, As once on Pisgah purg'd was the sight So maybe, on this Pisgah height, Nay, Bobby's mouth may be open'd yet, * O, ONCE I LOV'D A BONNIE LASS1. TUNE-I am a man unmarried. O, ONCE I lov'd a bonnie lass, Ay, and I love her still, And whilst that virtue warms my breast I'll love my handsome Nell. Fal lal de ral, &c. As bonnie lassies I hae seen, A bonnie lass, I will confess, But without some better qualities She's no a lass for me. But Nelly's looks are blithe and sweet, And what is best of a', Her reputation is complete, And fair without a flaw. She dresses aye sae clean and neat, And then there's something in her gait A gaudy dress and gentle air This was our Poet's first attempt. I'LL aye ca' in by yon town, I'll And by yon garden green again; aye ca' in by yon town, And see my bonnie Jean again. There's nane sall ken, there's nane sall guess, What brings me back the gate again, But she, my fairest faithfu' lass, And stownlins we sall meet again. She'll wander by the aiken tree, WHISTLE O'ER THE LAVE O'T. FIRST when Maggy was my care, Meg was meek, and Meg was mild, VOL. II. R |