O! hear my ardent, grateful, selfish pray'r!
Fintry, my other stay, long bless and spare !
Thro' a long life his hopes and wishes crown;
And bright in cloudless skies his sun go down!
May bliss domestic smooth his private path;
Give energy to life; and smooth his latest breath,
With many a filial tear circling the bed of death!

LAMENT

FOR

JAMES, EARL OF GLENCAIRN.

THE wind blew hollow frae the hills,
By fits the sun's departing beam
Look'd on the fading yellow woods

That wav'd o'er Lugar's winding stream:

Beneath a craigy steep, a bard,

Laden with years and meikle pain,

In loud lament bewail'd his lord,

Whom death had all untimely taen.

He lean'd him to an ancient aik,

Whose trunk was mould'ring down with years;

His locks were bleached white with time,
His hoary cheek was wet wi' tears s;
And as he touch'd his trembling harp,
And as he tun'd his doleful sang,
The winds, lamenting thro' their caves,
To echo bore the notes alang.

"Ye scatter'd birds that faintly sing,
"The reliques of the vernal quire!
"Ye woods that shed on a' the winds
"The honours of the aged year!
"A few short months, and glad and gay,

Again ye'll charm the ear and e'e;

"But nocht in all revolving time

"Can gladness bring again to me.

"I am a bending aged tree,

"That long has stood the wind and rain "But now has come a cruel blast,

"And my last hold of earth is gane; "Nae leaf o' mine shall greet the spring, "Nae simmer sun exalt my bloom;

"But I maun lie before the storm,

"And ithers plant them in my room.