POSTSCRIPT.

Afton's Laird, Afton's Laird, When your pen can be spar'd, A copy o' this I bequeath,

On the same sicker score
I mentioned before,

To that trusty auld worthy Clackleith,
Afton's Laird,

To that trusty auld worthy Clackleith.

CXI.

PEG NICHOLSON.

[These hasty verses are to be found in a letter addressed to Nicol of the High School of Edinburgh by the poet, giving him an account of the unlookedfor death of his mare, Peg Nicholson, the successor of Jenny Geddes. She had suffered both in the employ of the joyous priest and the thoughtless poet. She acquired her name from that frantic virago who attempted to murder George the Third.]

PEG NICHOLSON was a good bay mare As ever trode on airn;

But now she's floating down the Nith, And past the mouth o' Cairn.

Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare,
And rode thro' thick and thin;
But now she's floating down the Nith,
And wanting e'en the skin.

Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare,
And ance she bore a priest;
But now she's floating down the Nith,
For Solway fish a feast.

Peg Nicholson was a good bay mare,
And the priest he rode her sair;
And much oppressed and bruised she was,
As priest-rid cattle are, &c, &c.

CXII. ON

CAPT. MATTHEW HENDERSON,

A GENTLEMAN WHO HELD THE PATENT FOR HIS HONOURS IMMEDIATELY FROM ALMIGHTY GOD.

"Should the poor be flattered?"
SHAKSPEARE.

But now his radiant course is run,
For Matthew's course was bright;
His soul was like the glorious sun,
A matchless heav'nly light!

[Captain Matthew Henderson, a gentleman of very agreeable manners and great propriety of character, usually lived in Edinburgh, dined constantly at Fortune's Tavern, and was a member of the Capillaire Club, which was composed of all who desired to be thought witty or joyous: he died in 1789 Burns, in a note to the Poem, says, 66 I loved the man much, and have not flattered his memory." Henderson seems indeed to have been universally liked. In our travelling party," says Sir James Campbell, of Ardkinglass, "was Matthew Henderson, then (1759) and afterwards well known and much esteemed in the town of Edinburgh; at that time an officer in the twenty-fifth regiment of foot, and, like myself, on his way to join the army; and I may say with truth, that in the course of a long life I have never known a more estimable character, than Matthew Henderson."-Memoirs of Campbell, of Ardkinglass, p. 17.]

O DEATH! thou tyrant fell and bloody!
The meikle devil wi' a woodie
Haurl thee hame to his black smiddie,
O'er hurcheon hides,
And like stock-fish come o'er his studdie
Wi' thy auld sides!

He's gane! he's gane! he's frae us torn,
The ae best fellow e'er was born!
Thee, Matthew, Nature's sel' shall mourn
By wood and wild,

Where, haply, pity strays forlorn,
Frae man exil'd!

Ye hills! near neebors o' the starns, That proudly cock your cresting cairns! Ye cliffs, the haunts of sailing yearns,

Where echo slumbers! Come join, ye Nature's sturdiest bairns, My wailing numbers!

Mourn, ilka grove the cushat kens!
Ye haz'lly shaws and briery dens!
Ye burnies, wimplin' down your glens,
Wi' toddlin din,

Or foaming strang, wi' hasty stens.
Frae lin to lin!

Mourn, little harebells o'er the lea;
Ye stately foxgloves fair to see;
Ye woodbines, hanging bonnilie,
In scented bow'rs;

Ye roses on your thorny tree,

The first o' flow'rs.

At dawn, when ev'ry grassy blade Droops with a diamond at its head,

Mourn, clam'ring craiks at close o' day,
'Mang fields o' flowering clover gay;
And when ye wing your annual way
Frae our cauld shore,
Tell thae far warlds, wha lies in clay,
Wham we deplore.

Ye houlets, frae your ivy bow'r,
In some auld tree, or eldritch tow'r,
What time the moon, wi' silent glow'r,
Sets up her horn,

Wail thro' the dreary midnight hour
Till waukrife morn!

O rivers, forests, hills, and plains!
Oft have ye heard my canty strains;
But now, what else for me remains
But tales of woe?
And frae my een the drapping rains
Maun ever flow.

Mourn, spring, thou darling of the year!
Ilk cowslip cup shall kep a tear:
Thou, simmer, while each corny spear
Shoots up its head,

Thy gay, green, flow'ry tresses shear
For him that's dead!

Thou, autumn, wi' thy yellow hair,
In grief thy sallow mantle tear:
Thou, winter, hurling thro' the air

The roaring blast,

Wide o'er the naked world declare

The worth we've lost!

Mourn him, thou sun, great source of light!
Mourn, empress of the silent night!
And you, ye twinkling starnies bright,
My Matthew mourn!

For through your orbs he's ta'en his flight,
Ne'er to return.

O, Henderson! the man--the brother! And art thou gone, and gone for ever? And hast thou crost that unknown river, Life's dreary bound? Like thee, where shall I find another, The world around?

Go to your sculptur'd tombs, ye great,
In a' the tinsel trash o' state!
But by thy honest turf I'll wait,

Thou man of worth!
And weep the ae best fellow's fate
E'er lay in earth.

THE EPITAPH.

Stop, passenger!-my story's brief, And truth I shall relate, man;

I tell nae common tale o' grief— For Matthew was a great man.

If thou uncommon merit hast,

Yet spurn'd at fortune's door, man,

A look of pity hither cast-
For Matthew was a poor man,

If thou a noble sodger art,

That passest by this grave, man, There moulders here a gallant heartFor Matthew was a brave man.

If thou on men, their works and ways, Canst throw uncommon light, man, Here lies wha weel had won thy praiseFor Matthew was a bright man.

If thou at friendship's sacred ca' Wad life itself resign, man, Thy sympathetic tear maun fa'For Matthew was a kind man!

If thou art staunch without a stain, Like the unchanging blue, man, This was a kinsman o' thy ain— For Matthew was a true man.

If thou hast wit, and fun, and fire,

And ne'er guid wine did fear, man, This was thy billie, dam, and sireFor Matthew was a queer man.

If ony whiggish whingin sot,

To blame poor Matthew dare, man, May dool and sorrow be his lot! For Matthew was a rare man.

CXIII.

THE FIVE CARLINS.

A SCOTS BALLAD.

Tune-Chevy Chase.

[This is a local and a political Poem, composed on the contest between Miller, the younger, of Dalswinton, and Johnstone of Westerhall, for the representation of the Dumfries and Galloway district of Boroughs. Each town or borough speaks and acts in character: Maggy personates Dumfries; Marjory, Lochmaben; Bess of Solway-side, Annan; Whisky Jean, Kirkcudbright; and Black Joan, Sanquhar. On the part of Miller, all the Whig interest of the Duke of Queensberry was exerted, and all the Tory interest on the side of Johnstone: the poet's heart was with the latter. Annan and Lochmaben stood staunch by old names and old affections: after a contest, bitterer than anything of the kind remembered, the Whig interest prevailed.]

THERE were five carlins in the south,

They fell upon a scheme,

To send a lad to London town,
To bring them tidings hame.

Not only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there;
And aiblins gowd and honour baith
Might be that laddie's share.

There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith,
A dame wi' pride eneugh;
And Marjory o' the mony lochs,
A carlin auld and teugh.

And blinkin' Bess of Annandale,

That dwelt near Solway-side; And whisky Jean, that took her gill In Galloway sae wide.

And black Joan, frae Crighton-peel,
O' gipsy kith an' kin;—
Five wighter carlins were na found
The south countrie within.

To send a lad to London town,
They met upon a day;
And mony a knight, and mony a laird,
This errand fain wad gae.

O mony a knight, and mony a laird, This errand fain wad gae;

But nae ane could their fancy please, O ne'er a ane but twae.

VOL. II.

The first ane was a belted knight,

Bred of a border band;

And he wad gae to London town, Might nae man him withstand.

And he wad do their errands weel,
And meikle he wad say;
And ilka ane about the court
Wad bid to him gude-day.

The neist cam in a sodger youth,

And spak wi' modest grace, And he wad gae to London town,

If sae their pleasure was.

He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meikle speech pretend;

But he wad hecht an honest heart
Wad ne'er desert his friend.

Then wham to chuse, and wham refuse,
At strife thir carlins fell;

For some had gentlefolks to please,
And some wad please themsel.

Then out spak mim-mou'd Meg o' Nith,
And she spak up wi' pride,
And she wad send the sodger youth,
Whatever might betide.

For the auld gudeman o' London court
She didna care a pin;

But she wad send the sodger youth
To greet his eldest son.

Then slow raise Marjory o' the Lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow;
Her ancient weed was russet gray,
Her auld Scots heart was true.

"The London court set light by meI set as light by them; And I will send the sodger lad

To shaw that court the same."

Then up sprang Bess of Annandale,
And swore a deadly aith,
Says, "I will send the border-knight
Spite o' you carlins baith.

"For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,
And fools o' change are fain;
But I hae try'd this border-knight,
I'll try him yet again."

Then whisky Jean spak o'er her drink,
"Ye weel ken, kimmers a',
The auld gudeman o' London court,
His back's been at the wa'.

P

"And mony a friend that kiss'd his caup,

Is now a fremit wight;

But it's ne'er be sae wi' whisky Jean,We'll send the border-knight."

Says black Joan o' Crighton-peel,

A carlin stoor and grim,—

"The auld gudeman, or the young gudeman, For me may sink or swim.

"For fools will prate o' right and wrang, While knaves laugh in their sleeve; But wha blaws best the horn shall win, I'll speir nae courtier's leave."

So how this mighty plea may end
There's naebody can tell :
God grant the king, and ilka man,
May look weel to himsel'!

CXIV.

THE

LADDIES BY THE BANKS O' NITH.

[This short Poem was first published by Robert Chambers. It intimates pretty strongly how much the poet disapproved of the change which came over the Duke of Queensberry's opinions, when he supported the right of the Prince of Wales to assume the government, without consent of Parliament, during the king's alarming illness in 1788.]

THE laddies by the banks o' Nith,
Wad trust his Grace wi' a', Jamie,
But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King,
Turn tail and rin awa', Jamie.

Up and waur them a', Jamie,
Up and waur them a';

The Johnstones hae the guidin' o't,
Ye turncoat Whigs awa'.

The day he stude his country's friend,
Or gied her faes a claw, Jamie;
Or frae puir man a blessin' wan,
That day the Duke ne'er saw, Jamie.

But wha is he, his country's boast? Like him there is na twa, Jamie; There's no a callant tents the kye, But kens o' Westerha', Jamie.

To end the wark here's Whistlebirk,' Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie; And Maxwell true o' sterling blue: And we'll be Johnstones a', Jamie.

CXV. EPISTLE

TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ., OF FINTRY:

ON THE CLOSE OF THE DISPUTED ELECTION BETWEEN SIR JAMES JOHNSTONE AND CAPTAIN MILLER, FOR THE DUMFRIES D STRICT OF BOROUGHS.

["I am too little a man," said Burns, in the note to Fintry, which accompanied this Poem, "to have any political attachment: I am deeply indebted to and have the warmest veneration for individuals of both parties: but a man who has it in his power to be the father of a country, and who acts like his Grace of Queensberry, is a character that one cannot speak of with patience." This Epistle was first printed in my edition of Burns in 1834: I had the use of the Macmurdo and the Afton manuscripts for that purpose: to both families the poet was much indebted for many acts of courtesy and kindness.]

FINTRY, my stay in worldly strife,
Friend o' my muse, friend o' my life,
Are ye as idle's I am?
Come then, wi' uncouth, kintra fleg,
O'er Pegasus I'll fling my leg,

And ye shall see me try him.

I'll sing the zeal Drumlanrig bears,
Who left the all-important cares

Of princes and their darlings;
And, bent on winning borough towns,
Came shaking hands wi' wabster lowns,
And kissing barefit carlins.

Combustion thro' our boroughs rode
Whistling his roaring pack abroad
Of mad unmuzzled lions;
As Queensberry buff and blue unfurled,
And Westerha' and Hopeton hurled
To every Whig defiance.

But cautious Queensberry left the war,
Th' unmanner'd dust might soil his star;
Besides, he hated bleeding:
But left behind him heroes bright,
Heroes in Cæsarean fight,

Or Ciceronian pleading.

(1) Birkwhistle: a Galloway laird, and elector.

O! for a throat like huge Mons-meg, To muster o'er each ardent Whig

Beneath Drumlanrig's banner; Heroes and heroines commix, All in the field of politics,

To win immortal honour.

M'Murdo1 and his lovely spouse,
(Th' enamour'd laurels kiss her brows!)
Led on the loves and graces:
She won each gaping burgess' heart,
While he, all-conquering, play'd his part
Among their wives and lasses.

Craigdarroch led a light-arm'd corps,
Tropes, metaphors, and figures pour,

Like Hecla streaming thunder:
Glenriddel, skill'd in rusty coins,
Blew up each Tory's dark designs,

And bar'd the treason under.

In either wing two champions fought,
Redoubted Staig, who set at nought

The wildest savage Tory;

And Welsh, who ne'er yet flinch'd his ground,
High-wav'd his magnum-bonum round
With Cyclopean fury.

Miller brought up th' artillery ranks,
The many-pounders of the Banks,
Resistless desolation!

While Maxwelton, that baron bold,
'Mid Lawson's port entrench'd his hold,

And threaten'd worse damnation.

To these what Tory hosts oppos'd,
With these what Tory warriors clos'd,
Surpasses my descriving:
Squadrons extended long and large,
With furious speed rush to the charge,
Like raging devils driving.

What verse can sing, what prose narrate,
The butcher deeds of bloody fate
Amid this mighty tulzie!
Grim Horror girn'd-pale Terror roar'd,
As Murther at his thrapple shor'd,

And hell mix'd in the brulzie.

The stubborn Tories dare to die;
As soon the rooted oaks would fly

Before th' approaching fellers:
The Whigs come on like Ocean's roar,
When all his wintry billows pour

Against the Buchan Bullers.

Lo, from the shades of Death's deep night,
Departed Whigs enjoy the fight,

And think on former daring:
The muffled murtherer' of Charles
The Magna Charta flag unfurls,

All deadly gules its bearing. Nor wanting ghosts of Tory fame, Bold Scrimgeours follows gallant Graham,' Auld Covenanters shiver. (Forgive, forgive, much wrong'd Montrose! Now death and hell engulph thy foes,

Thou liv'st on high for ever!)