But, under favour o' your langer beard, Nae mair the Council waddles down the street, In all the pomp of ignorant conceit; Men wha grew wise priggin owre hops an' raisins, Or gather'd lib'ral views in Bonds and Seisins, Plain, dull Stupidity stept kindly in to aid them. What farther clishmaclaver might been said, What bloody wars, if Sprites had blood to shed, No man can tell; but all before their sight, A fairy train appear'd in order bright : Adown the glitt❜ring stream they featly danc'd ; Bright to the moon their various dresses glanc'd: They footed o'er the wat'ry glass so neat, The infant ice scarce bent beneath their feet: While arts of Minstrelsy among them rung, And soul-ennobling bards heroic ditties sung. O had O had M'Lauchlan, thairm-inspiring Sage Been there to hear this heavenly band engage, When thro' his dear Strathspeys they bore with Highland rage; Or when they struck old Scotia's melting airs, No guess could tell what instrument appear'd, The Genius of the Stream in front appears, A venerable Chief advanc'd in years; His hoary head with water-lilies crown'd, His manly leg with garter tangle bound. Next came the loveliest pair in all the ring, Sweet Female Beauty hand in hand with Spring; Then, crown'd with flow'ry hay, came Rural Joy, And Summer, with his fervid-beaming eye: All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn; Then Winter's time-bleach'd locks did hoary show, By Hospitality with cloudless brow. Next * A well known performer of Scottish music on the violin. Next follow'd Courage, with his martial stride, From where the Feal* wild woody coverts hide; Benevolence, with mild, benignant air, A female form, came from the tow'rs of Stair:† Learning and Worth in equal measures trode From simple Catrine, their long-lov'd abode: Last, white-rob'd Peace, crown'd with a hazle wreath, To rustic Agriculture did bequeath The broken iron instruments of death; At sight of whom our Sprites forgat their kindling wrath. *Feal is a small stream which runs near Coilsfield, then the seat of Colonel Montgomery, now (1819) Earl of Eglinton. The Poet alludes here to Mrs. Stewart of Stair.-Stair was then in her possession. She afterwards removed to Afton-Lodge, on the banks of the Afton, a stream which he afterwards celebrated in a song entitled "Afton Water."See a letter to Mrs. Stewart, vol. ii. The song, Afton Water, vol. iv. E. ! A sweet little place on the banks of Ayr, belonging to Professor Dugald Stewart, where he used to reside during the intervals of his labours in the University, (as his father had done before him), till banished from it by the erection of a cotton-mill village immediately adjoining. THE THE ORDINATION. For sense they little owe to Frugal Heav'n- KILMARNOCK Wabsters fidge an' claw, An' pour your creeshie nations; An' ye wha leather rax an' draw, Of a' denominations, 'Swift to the Laigh Kirk, ane an' a', An' there tak up your stations; Then aff to Begbie's in a raw, For joy this day. II. Curst II. Curst Common-sense, that imp o' h-ll, Wi' dirt this day. III. Mak haste an' turn king David owre, An' lilt wi' holy clangor; O' double verse come gie us four, An' skirl up the Bangor: This day the Kirk kicks up a stoure, Nae mair the knaves shall wrang her, For Heresy is in her pow'r, Aud gloriously she'll whang her Wi' pith this day. IV. Come * Alluding to a scoffing ballad which was made on the admission of the late Reverend and worthy Mr. L. to the Laigh Kirk, |