POSTSCRIPT.

1

My memory's no worth a preen ;
I had amaist forgotten clean,
Ye bade me write you what they mean
By this "new-light,'

'Bout which our herds sae aft hae been
Maist like to fight.

3

In days when mankind were but callans 3
At grammar, logic, an' sic talents,

They took nae pains their speech to balance,
Or rules to gie;

But spak their thoughts in plain, braid Lallans,*
Like you or me.

In thae auld times, they thought the moon,
Just like a sark," or pair o' shoon,
Wore by degrees, till her last roon

6

Gaed past their viewin;

An' shortly after she was done

They gat a new ane.

This passed for certain, undisputed;
It ne'er cam i' their heads to doubt it,
Till chiels gat up an' wad confute it,

An' ca'd it wrang;

An' muckle din there was about it,
Baith loud an' lang.

Some herds, weel learn'd upo' the beuk,
Wad threap auld folk the thing misteuk;

1 pin.

7

2 New-Light is a cant phrase in the West of Scotland for those religious opinions which Dr. Taylor of Norwich has defended so strenuously.-R. B.

boys. 6 shred.

4 Lowland speech.

7 assert.

5 shirt.

For 'twas the auld moon turn'd a neuk

An' out o' sight,

An' backlins-comin, to the leuk

1

She grew mair bright.

This was deny'd, it was affirm'd;

2

The herds and hissels were alarm'd;
The rev'rend grey-beards rav'd an' storm'd,
That beardless laddies

Should think they better were inform'd

Than their auld daddies.

Frae less to mair, it gaed to sticks ;
Frae words an' aiths, to clours3 an' nicks;

An monie a fallow gat his licks,

Wi' hearty crunt; 5

An' some, to learn them for their tricks,

Were hang'd an' brunt.

6

This game was play'd in mony lands,
An' "auld-light" caddies bure sic hands,
That faith, the youngsters took the sands
Wi' nimble shanks
Till lairds forbad, by strict commands,
Sic bluidy pranks.

s;

But "new-light" herds gat sic a cowe,"
Folk thought them ruin'd stick-an-stowe;"

Till now,

amaist on ev'ry knowe

Ye'll find ane plac'd;

An' some, their "new-light" fair avow,

Just quite barefac'd.

4

Nae doubt the "auld-light" flocks are bleatin; Their zealous herds are vex'd and sweatin;

Mysel, I've even seen them greetin

Wi' girnin' spite,

To hear the moon sae sadly lie'd on

By word an' write.

3

But shortly they will cow the louns! 3
Some "auld-light" herds in neebor touns
Are mind't, in things they ca' balloons,
To tak a flight;

An' stay ae month amang the moons,
An' see them right.

Guid observation they will gie them;

4

An' when the auld moon's gaun to lea'e them, The hindmost shaird, they'll fetch it wi' them, Just i' their pouch;

An' when the "new-light" billies see them,

I think they'll crouch!

Sae, ye observe that a' this clatter
Is naething but a "moonshine matter;
But tho' dull prose-folk Latin splatter
In logic tulzie,"

I hope we bardies ken some better

Auld Ayr ran by before me,
And bicker'd to the seas;
A cushat1 crooded 2 o'er me,

That echoed through the braes.

MY JEAN! 3

THO' cruel fate should bid us part,
Far as the pole and line,
Her dear idea round my heart,
Should tenderly entwine.

Tho' mountains rise, and deserts howl,
And oceans roar between;
Yet, dearer than my deathless soul,
I still would love my Jean.

RANTIN, ROVIN ROBIN.

THERE was a lad was born in Kyle,*
But whatna day o' whatna style,
I doubt it's hardly worth the while
To be sae nice wi' Robin.
Chor.-Robin was a rovin boy,

Rantin, rovin, rantin, rovin,
Robin was a rovin boy,

Rantin, rovin Robin!

Our monarch's hindmost year

but ane

Was five-and-twenty days begun,"

1 wild pigeon.

2 cooed.

This song is a first sketch of the famous "Of a' the airts," etc.

The central district of Ayrshire.

3 Jan. 25, 1759, the date of my bardship's vital existence.-R. B.

'Twas then a blast o' Janwar' win' Blew hansel1 in on Robin. Robin was, etc.

The gossip keekit2 in his loof,3

Quo' scho, "Wha lives will see the proof,
This waly boy will be nae coof:

I think we'll ca' him Robin.

Robin was, etc.

"He'll hae misfortunes great an' sma', But ay a heart aboon them a',

He'll be a credit till us a’

We'll a' be proud o' Robin.
Robin was, etc.

"But sure as three times three mak nine, I see by ilka score and line,

This chap will dearly like our kin',

"Guid faith," quo' scho, "I doubt you, sir,

Ye gar the lasses"

*

*

But twenty fauts ye may hae waur,
So blessins on thee! Robin."

*

Robin was, etc.

1 first gift.

4 large, jolly.

A term of congratulatory endearment.

Cunningham gives the following reading, without mentioning his authority :

"Gude faith!" quo' sho, "I doubt you gar
The bonie lassies lie aspar.'