^M o r 1 B 1 S 1 x 1 c5 Z i> jo 3> 5 _ ^s^s ^= Poems: Address tc Edinburgh POEMS. ^ttoress to Ctmtfrurgf) ; vtfULB FIFE'S VISIT NEW TOWN OF EDINBURGH ; VERSES ON ESK WATER. EDINBURGH ; PRINTED BY T. OLIVER, NETHERBOW. 1805. /ft fff/ EDINBURGH, Hail Edinburgh ! thou famous city, To ca' thee less wad be a pity ; For in low terms I daurna greet ye, Nor am I wanting : Tho' gaping cuifs ca' thee Auld Reekie, By way o' taunting. Thae vera fools wha use thee ill, Whan they're compell'd to tak' farewell, Wi' heavy hearts, ah me ! to tell, They shed a tear, To lea'e thy guid bairns, an' thy sell, Wham they haud dear. 2 861797 4 Wi' pride thy provost in thee reigns, An' thy wise laws he weel maintains ; For justice by him aye has been Reliev'd frae clamour : The baillies hear ilk wrang'd ane's mane I' the Counc'l Cham'er. Thy fifteen judges on the bench, Frae strictest justice never * flinch, . Wha's in the wrang they winna wrench, Nor e'er gi'e pain ; Nor keep frae man, wife, lad, or wench, Whate'ers their ain. Here naething thrives sae weel's the law, For lawyers now are unco braw ; Ye fee them weel, which gars them craw, * It is a well known fact, notwithstanding the many appeals from the Court of Session, to the House of Lords, that e very- year occur, a very small proportion of them is ever reversed. 5 An' look sae big, In their lang gown, as black's a daw, Wi' powther'd wig ! Scotland can boast o' pedigree, O' lords, an* dukes o' high degree ; Ne'er wad her trusty sons up gi'e Their patriot pride ! Frae friends, nor foes they never flee, What may betide. O Scotland ! ye've gain'd meikle fame, In foreign parts, as weel's at hame ; In Egypt-land ye were na tame, In kilt an* bonnet ! Weel claw'd were Frenchmen, back an' wame, Wi' trusty* Jennet. * This term denotes a gun, and is peculiar to the Highlanders. It need hardly be remarked, as it is well known, that the 4 2d regiment distinguished itself in Egypt, 6 Sin' there's in France a tyrant risen, Wha' threatens a' wi' bauld invasion,' 'Twill be to you a guid occasion, To show your pow'r : Ye'll tak the upstart by the weason, An' gi'e'm a clour. Sin' ye a* ready are to meet him, Wi' sword in hand ye'll warmly greet him ; Wi* keen impatience ye now wait him, On your blessed shore ! To his starv'd legions ye'll gi'e great game,, As in days o' yore. Your great commander's lov'd by a , The good, an' gallant Moira ! Rely on him, for he'll soon shaw Your vaunting foes, They'll ne'er return to Gallia, To tell their woes ! 7 From you, Edina, rises men, For sword, an' word, an 'genious pen ! Wi' meikle pride aft them ye sen', Baith here, an* there ; On sea, an' land, to mak' a. fen\ They never fear. Thy sons aye show their tender nature, In humanity to ilka creature ; To thae wha guid or bad, nae matter, Where'er' s their hame ; Real friendship marks their greatest feature, To kin, an frem\ Thy daughters too, how pure, an' kind ! Virtue, an* truth, adorn their mind ; Wi' tenderness, an' beauty, join'd, How mild, an* sweet ! Their love's sincere, a' hearts they bind In happy state. 8 Ilk ancient house, which spoil'd the view We ha'e pu'd clown, an' reared new ; There's kirks, an' markets, not a few, Baith clean, an' neat ; An' twa great brigs, a bonie shew ! They'll dread nae speat. The far-fam'd College, our great pride ! It's sair worn wa's we cou'dna 'bide, But rais'd a new ane, high an' wide, On its auld stance : It was to grandeur a far stride, Beyond our glance ! O' banking houses we ha'e na few, Wha help our trade right weel, I trow ; Some o' them's auld, but ane is new, On Nor' Loch side, Which far excels them in the view. Like a fair bride ! 9 Our public offices are stately, Their wa's are polish'd, an* carv'd neatly ; But th* Register dings them completely, It is our boast : For 'twas erected vera lately, Wi' taste, an' cost. There's steeples glittering in the sky, An* mony buildings towering high ; Twal stories aften we descry, A dreadfu' sight ! Some strangers say, when them they're nigh, They shake wi' fright. Our fine auld Scots tunes ilka day, On Giles's* bells we sweetly play ! * St Giles's Steeple is extremely elegant. Its form is exactly that of an Imperial Crown. The bells are played on every day (Sunday excepted,) from one to two o'clock. B 10 For a' wha bear them, croon ilk lay Unto themsel ; Tho' they were grave, 'twou'd mak' them gay, An' care dispel. The hospitals for auld, an 1 young, Deserve much praise frae ilka tongue ; For mony's reap'd their blessing long, Weel can we say : Their wa's are elegant, an' strong, As their first day. Now auld, an* young ne'er need to want, Baith food, an' lodging, an' raiment ; To Charity houses they are sent, To live at ease : Where they may dwell till life be spent, Or till they please. 11 There's houses open aye for lear *, For those wha hae nae gear to spare ; Our bairns can be instructed there To read, an' write : Wha's pride rejects a gift sae rare, Act far frae right. ** The hill on which Edina's plac'd, A gentle rise takes in the east ; An* falls abruptly to the west, A rugged rock, Whereon the castle cocks its crest, Our foes to mock. Still's ftf the Palace to this date, O' ancient furniture o' state ! * It is highly honourable to Edinburgh, that there are many hospitals, charity-houses, and private schools, solely appropriated to the benefit of the poor. 2 12 The sculptur'd wa's are yet complete, An* look fu' grand ! On a sweet plain, near Arthurs Seat, They fair do stand. Our Scottish kings ne'er heeded pain, When back'd by ilka warlike swain ; Aft forth they march'd their rights to gain, Wi' sword, an* shield ; Their foes in thousands they left slain Upo' the field. At last we saw it was na right, 'Gainst Suthron neebors thus to fight, In friendship now, an union tight, An' love fraternal ; In other's welfare we delight, May't be eternal ! 13 *Twas th' greatest bliss we ever saw, When foes aye bare, sin' friends aye braw! An' now we rear our crest an' craw, A bauld defiance ! To our great enemy, ane an* a' ! (Sin* our alliance.) O what a pleasure's to our een, Fam'd Arthur's hill forever green ! It's tow'ring height frae far is seen, For't stands alane, On its tap mony aft have been To view the plain. Our braw New Town's sae large, an' fine, That ilka place it does outshine , Where Nature's beauties a' combine : Look to the north ! An' view our noble river win', The flowing Forth. 14 There is fine stone within our land, Which mak's our buildings look sae grand ; It's hues are rich, it aye does stand : An* we can say, Its great guid too we lang hae fand, On ilk high-way. Fair Pentland Hills wi' water sweet, Supplies profusely ilka street ; An 1 there are lights to guide our feet F the right road, Sud drouthy neebors keep us late Frae our abode. A* night there's men gae thro* the town, To guard us frae ilk blackguard loun, Wha wander aft to knock us down, Or rob our house : They wad be seiz'd e'er they'd get done Sic vile abuse. 15 Now just before I drap my quill, I maun sing th' far fam'd Calton-Hill ; The views from which, I've heard those tell Wha ' broad had been, That ilka place they far excel, They e'er had seen. Edina, ye're gaun down the Walk To guid friend Leith, her hands to shak', An' about trade to ha'e a crack, An' view the Pier ; When finished, it will you up mak', Ye needna fear. Before the constant driving gale, A' sort o' ships to you will sail, An' bring you o' a' wares the wale, For gold, or barter : Sin' your wet-docks will never fail To yield safe quarter. 16 Your liberal sons their gowcl ne'er spare, To mak' ye usefu', neat, an' fair ! In trade, an* ilka art that's rare, Ye bear the bell : An' those wha see you loud declare. Ye a* excelh AN L Awa' she gaed to an auld frien', (Wham she had loo'd aye vera keen, Between them strife was never seen, Whate'er befel,) To get some meat to ease her pain, An* rest hersel. When she cam' there, O sic a meetin ! They were sae fond, they baith were greetin* ; Their cheeks their watery een were weetin' ; An' gabs a' slaver'd, About langsyne sae busy speakin', Fu lang they claver'd. 22 Said Meg, " O Hel'n, what wad ye eat ? " I wiss I had some dainty meat, " Nane sud be walcomer to see't " Than you, I trow ; Ci A guid piece beef is on the spit, " 'Twill taste your raou." She cried, " O Meg, gie me your hand, " Hech, my woman ! it will do grand, " For now sic need I never fand, " Sin' I drew breath ; " Nor never was at sic a stand, " Cou d gie my aith." Wi* meikle joy they gaed to dine, When Helen prais'd the meat sae fine ; The yill an' whisky round gaed syne, It was sae nappy, That baith were like their wits to tine, They grew sae happy. 23 " O now, dear Marg'ret, I maun rin, " For 'twill be dark ere hame I win. f* Then fare ye weel my honest friend " I maun awa : " I'se my guid neebors entertain, " 'Bout th' journey a\" " O Hel'n, to part wi' you I'm laith, " I'm fear't that you will meet wi' skaith " Upo' the road, to be your death, " My honest woman : " But ye'll win hame, if ye hae pith, " Afore the gloaminV (i I'll rin as quick's a burd '11 flee, " For I'm sae glad I hae seen thee ; (C Now there's nae ill that I will dree, " I'll gang hame singin' ! " Whene'er the nappy gear I prie, I'm bauld's an ingan. 24 " Gie me your hand afore we part, " For ye weel ken ye hae my heart, " To lea'e ye, lass, it sair does smart Wi' friendship's flame ; " But time's flying by, now I maun start, To my ain hame." Thus two fond lovers drown'd in tears, When they are forc'd to part for years ; The cruel thought the more endears The unhappy two : Sic Helen Glen, an' Marg'ret Stairs, When bidd'ng adieu. Mtvm ON ESK WATER O'er its deep-worn, and silent bed, The winding Esk does smoothly glide, Thro' verdant glens, and flow'ry knows ; 5 Tween rocks now falls, then glittering flows. The cowslip blooms by sweet white thorns, And the wild banks the rose adorns ; The hardy thistle by her side, Guards his rich fragrant, blushing bride ! Upon the woody heights the broom, Profusely spreads its yellow bloom ; D 26 The wanton woodbines creep to hold, The birches stems of shining gold ! The morning now begins to glow, And breaking clouds fair colours show ; Look ! where illumin'd is each height, By the gay sun's rich varied light. Yonder, on high, the castle rears, i Its walls preserv'd for many years ; Once Roslin's boast, and Sinclair's stay : Who then in Scotland bore great sway. See too ! the chapel now grown gray, For time is mouldering it away : Still it does ancient taste display ! On scented brier, and woods around, Fond birds chant to the water's sound : The bullfinch, and the linnet's lay, Complete the rural concert gay. See where the trouts leap from the stream And mennins in the shallows teem. / 27 The whiterats peeping thro' the cairn, The hares seen limping 'mang the fearn ; The nimble squirr'ls thro'out the wood, Now roam, and leap, to catch their food. In moss-clad trees, with lofty heads, The lowing herds find cooling shades ; 'Mang which they range to crop the spray, And screen them from the scorching day ; The milk-white flocks sport on the green : And nought save joy, and beauty's seen. Here's nymphs outshine the roses hue ! And swains in love, and friendship true ; And old folk too evince they have, Both health, and joy, tho* near the grave : For health, and innocence unite, To yield all here a calm delight. Do city pastimes e'er appear, With any pleasures like those here ? Ah, no ! the first bring but distress, The last abound in every bliss ! 2 28 O ! may my days in silence close, 'Side those sweet scenes where pure Esk flows ! In moss-clad cottage, neat, and clean ; To be from cold and heat a screen. O'er those rich banks now let us wind, With the sweet stream new charms to find, Where silver rills rush down each steep ; And gentle, drooping, willows weep. These rills make Esk's stream flow with force. O'er pebbly bottom murmuring hoarse ; And trees extend their leafy arms, To shade the river's glittering charms! Yonder ! on massy rock, is seen, The ancient pile of Hawthorn-Den ; 'Twas once the seat of patriots keen : And poet of ingenious pen * ! Its spacious caves, form'd in the rock, Withstand the awful tempest's shock. * The Celebrated Poet Drummond. 29 Reflecting bright, the morning beam, At length in silence glides the stream, Thro' Dreden's heights in green array, Observe ! it winds its chearful way. The timid partridge, and her young, Find shelter safe, these wilds among. The rook, the pigeon, and the pye, There build, and now in clusters fly. Here bees in flow'rs find richest treats, From which they draw the purest sweets. See, lovely Mavis-Bank is nigh, Whose beauties might with Eden's vie ! Let us stray down, to charm the sight, And every other sense delight. The river flows, where the Lass-wade *, With travelers thro' the crystal tide ; It is perhaps, not generally known, but is a fact, that this name originated from a woman having carried travellers over the stream ; by which she was so well recompensed, that at her death, she left a sufficiency of money for the erection of a bridge. so She rear'd the bridge, which there does stand, Across the stream by her command. Near hills with wood, and fruitful plain Which yieldeth store of golden grain, Fair Melville's turrets next appear, 'Midst all the beauty of the year. The stream now waves into Buccleugh, Where trees, and flowers of loveliest hue, Adorn the far-extended ground; Where game of various kind abound : And deer Qn pastures ever green ! And flocks, and herds enrich the scene, And feather'd warblers sweetly sing, Till woods, and banks with music ring. On high 'mang fragrant shrubs is seen, The Palace gay that aye has been, For symmetry, and seulptur'd grace ! A fabric th' eye deligjits to trace. There's many poor who are supplied, With lodging, raiment, and with bread ; 31 The orphan's and the widow's voice, Are never heard, but to rejoice ! 'Tis thus Buccleugh, your name has long, Receiv'd high praise from every tongue. By banks, and groves, and verdant glades, The water thro' some bridges glides ; The Esk now joins a rushing stream, Within these grounds, of the same name, Which flow'd where nature sweet is seen, In every aspect, ever green ! By Arniston, and Dalhousie gay, And thro' Newbottle lay its way. The river swelPd, now winds its course, O'er stony-bottom, sounding hoarse ; 'Twixt rugged banks, and gloomy trees, It foams, and rages to find ease. Glens wild, and barren, next receive, The stream, which troubled, seems to grieve, For leaving scenes, where plenty lies, And trees, and banks, and hills arise ! 32 The water by a sweeping flow, Near Inveresk, its charms now show, To beautify that lovely scene ! Where peaceful health, and plenty reign. 'Twixt Musselburgh, and Fisherrow, Thro' their wide bridges smooth, and slow. The water glides, towards the North, And soon is lost in th' Frith of Forth. Such are Esk's scenes, which far exceed The richest banks of wandering Tweed. t UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-50m-7, '54(5990)444 Cjay lord SS5 PAM PHIET BINDER ^Z^l Syracuse, N. Y. ZZSZ Stockton, Calif. A A 000 073 680