ADDRESS

TO THE

SHADE OF THOMSON,

ON CROWNING HIS BUST AT EDNAM, ROXBURGHSHIRE, WITH BAYS.

WHILE virgin spring, by Eden's flood,
Unfolds her tender mantle green,

Or pranks the sod in frolic mood,
Or tunes Eolian strains between.

While summer with a matron grace
Retreats to Dryburgh's cooling shade,

Yet oft, delighted, stops to trace

The progress of the spiky blade.

While autumn, benefactor kind,
By Tweed erects his aged head,
And sees, with self-approving mind,
Each creature on his bounty fed.

While maniac winter rages o'er

The hills whence classic Yarrow flows, Rousing the turbid torrent's roar,

Or sweeping, wild, a waste of snows.

So long, sweet poet of the year,

Shall bloom that wreath thou well hast won;

While Scotia, with exulting tear,

Proclaims that THOMSON was her son.

U 4

EPITAPHS.

ON

A CELEBRATED RULING ELDER.

HERE SOwter **** in death does sleep;
To h-ll, if he 's gane thither,
Satan, gie him thy gear to keep,
He'll haud it weel thegither.

ON A NOISY POLEMIC.

BELOW thir stanes lie Jamie's banes:
O Death, it's my opinion,

Thou ne'er took such a bleth'rin bitch

Into thy dark dominion!

ON WEE JOHNNIE.

Hic jacet wee Johnnie.

WHOE'ER thou art, O reader, know,

That death has murder'd Johnnie!

An' here his body lies fu' low-
For saul he ne'er had ony.

FOR

THE AUTHOR'S FATHER.

O YE whose cheek the tear of pity stains, Draw near with pious rev'rence, and attend! Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, The tender father, and the gen'rous friend.

The pitying heart that felt for human woe;
The dauntless heart that fear'd no human pride;

The friend of man, to vice alone a foe;

"For ev❜n his failings lean'd to virtue's side *."

* Goldsmith.

FOR R. A. ESQ.

KNOW thou, O stranger to the fame
Of this much lov'd, much honour'd name!
(For none that knew him need be told)
A warmer heart death ne'er made cold.

FOR G. H. ESQ.

The poor man weeps-here G-n sleeps,
Whom canting wretches blam'd:

But with such as he, where'er he be,
May I be sav'd or d-d!

A BARD'S EPITAPH.

Is there a whim-inspired fool,
Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool,
Let him draw near;