TheBrigsOfAyr

thebrigsofayr

apoem

inscribedtojohnballantine,esq.,ayr.

thesimplebard,roughattherusticplough,

learninghistunefultradefromev'rybough;

thechantinglinnet,orthemellowthrush,

hailingthesettingsun,sweet,inthegreenthornbush;

thesoaringlark,theperchingred-breastshrill,

ordeep-ton'dploversgrey,wild-whistlingo'erthehill;

shallhe—nurstinthepeasant'slowlyshed,

tohardyindependencebravelybred,

byearlypovertytohardshipsteel'd.

andtrain'dtoarmsinsternmisfortune'sfield—

shallhebeguiltyoftheirhirelingcrimes,

theservile,mercenaryswissofrhymes?

orlabourhardthepanegyricclose,

withallthevenalsoulofdedicatingprose?

no!thoughhisartlessstrainsherudelysings,

andthrowshishanduncouthlyo'erthestrings,

heglowswithallthespiritofthebard,

fame,honestfame,hisgreat,hisdearreward.

still,ifsomepatron'sgen'rouscarehetrace,

skill'dinthesecret,tobestowwithgrace;

whenballantinebefriendshishumblename,

andhandstherusticstrangeruptofame,

withheartfeltthroeshisgratefulbosomswells,

thegodlikebliss,togive,aloneexcels.

'twaswhenthestacksgetontheirwinterhap,

andthackandrapesecurethetoil-woncrap;

potatoe-bingsareedupfraeskaith

o'comingwinter'sbiting,frostybreath;

thebees,rejoicingo'ertheirsummertoils,

unnumber'dbudsan'flow'rs'deliciousspoils,

seal'dupwithfrugalcareinmassivewaxenpiles,

aredoom'dbyman,thattyranto'ertheweak,

thedeatho'devils,smoor'dwi'brimstonereek:

thethunderinggunsareheardonev'ryside,

thewoundedcoveys,reeling,scatterwide;

thefeather'dfield-mates,boundbynature'stie,

sires,mothers,children,inonecarnagelie:

(whatwarm,poeticheartbutinlybleeds,

andexecratesman'ssavage,ruthlessdeeds!)

naemairtheflow'rinfieldormeadowsprings,

naemairthegrovewithairyconcertrings,

exceptperhapstherobin'swhistlingglee,

proudo'theheighto'somebithalf-langtree:

thehoarymornsprecedethesunnydays,

mild,calm,serene,widespreadsthenoontideblaze,

whilethickthegosamourwaveswantonintherays.

'twasinthatseason,whenasimplebard,