FRAGMENT, WRITTEN EXTEMPORE.
NOUGHT is there in this wide world worth enjoying,
Except health, liberty, and peace of mind;
Yet, strange, a thousand vain desires torment us,
And overthrow the hopes of happiness.
First, pride, a dang'rous inmate of the breast,
Her various gew-gaws holds to youth's fond view,
And lures the thoughtless mind from wisdom's path:
Soon smart correction calls reflection forth,
And learning thus becomes a pleasing toil.
Now love the heart bewilders; one warm glance
From fancied beauty, e'en the blooming cheek,
The vermeil lip, arch look of roving eye,
The bosom fires, and makes us sigh and pine;
Then sleepless pass the health-consuming nights,
Nor pleasures now beguile the tedious days;
Racks, tortures, pleasing hopes, and jealous fears,
Alternate seize the heated wav'ring mind;
Till reason claims her empire o'er the brain,
And strips a mistress of ideal charms.
Ambition next appears, with motley train,
And oft invades our slumbers; now we dream
Of grandeur, pomp, and pow'r, of laurels won;
And honours lavish'd: soon the tell-tale, time,
Grave lessons whispers, proving all our youth
But scenes of vanity. In manhood, next,
Cautious we reason, pleasures we pursue;
And for a while are toss'd 'twixt joy and grief,
Till death, oft welcome, ends our countless cares !
ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY, FOND OF SINGING.
SWEET is the screech-owl's harshest note,
Compar'd with murm'rings from thy throat;
Grimalkin's voice seems music quite,
That breaks the silence of the night;
The prowling wolf that chides the moon,
Yells not a more discordant tune;
The croaking of the toad is sweet,
Compar'd with what thou think'st a treat;
Yes, with more pleasure, I could hear
The growling of a hungry bear,
And sooner far the brute would be,
Than forc'd to sit and listen thee!
THO' Youth thy path be strewn with flow'rs,
And mirth leads on the rosy hours;
Soon manhood proves the past a dream,
And joys, once priz'd, now sorrows seem.
O Youth! beware of pleasure's wile!
For danger lurks beneath her smile:
'Tis wise, in time, her haunts to shun;
Who woos the nymph, is soon undone !
Be to a brother's foibles blind;
Promote whatever serves mankind;
The naked clothe-the hungry feed-
And bow to what's by Heav'n decreed!
Let reason rule-each joy despise,
That honour, wealth, and health destroys:
Let virtue all thy thoughts engage;
Then, fearless, may'st thou welcome age!
Carnmoney.
WEE namesake! I hae known thee lang,
And listen'd aft thy dulcet sang,
Far frae thy woodland shade;
When Boreas, wi' his gloomy train,
Spread desolation o'er the plain,
Poor houseless flutt'rer! ne'er in vain,
Didst thou implore my aid.
Thy fate and mine are e'vn the same;
Unheeded pair, unknown to fame,
We sing the hours away:
Yet, Robin, thou canst taste repose,
In spite o' thy rapacious foes;
While reas'ning man, subdu'd by woes,
To grief aft fa's a prey.
Come cheerfu' bird, my cottage share!
Ay welcome to my hamely fare,
Till Spring decks ilka tree;
Then wilt thou wanton on the wing,
Or on some ivy'd turret sing;
But, O! nae season's change can bring
A season's joys to me!
ON RECEIVING A PRESENT FROM ONE LONG AND TRULY ESTEEMED.
YES, on it I will gaze, and sigh,
And next my heart the prize will wear, Ev'n death's keen terrors I'd defy,
Ere man from me the gift shou'd tear!
An exile tho' I'm doom'd to stray;
Where'er my vagrant feet may rove,
I'll kiss it, with a tear, and say,
O had it been the gift of love!
But love, alas! has brought me low,
And none from ruin can me save;
'Tis mine to bear a load of woe,
Till sorrow sinks me in the grave.
Ah! precious gift! on which I gaze,
May thy late owner ne'er endure
The pang that on this bosom preys,
The pain she proudly scorn'd to cure!
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