If haply Knowledge, on a random tramp, What farther clishmaclaver might been said, Or when they struck old Scotia's melting airs, While simple melody pour'd moving on the heart. The Genius of the stream in front appears, A venerable Chief advanc'd in years; . A well known performer of Scottish music on the violin. VOL. III. His hoary head with water-lilies crown'd, Next follow'd Courage with his martial stride, A female form, came from the tow'rs of Stair ;* The broken iron instruments of death; At sight of whom our Spirites forgat their kindling wrath. 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, No. V. The song, Afton Water, vol. iv. THE ORDINATION. For sense they little owe to Frugal Heav'n➡ I. KILMARNOCK Wabsters fidge an' claw, An' ye wha leather rax an' draw, Of a' denominations, Swith to the Laigh Kirk, ane an' a' For joy this day. II. Curst Common-sense, that imp o' h-ll, Cam in wi' Maggie Lauder ;* Wi' dirt this day. Alluding to a scoffing ballad which was made on the ad. mission of the late Reverend and worthy Mr L. to the Laigk. Kirk. III. Mak haste an' turn King David owre, O' double verse come gie us four, This day the Kirk kicks up a stoure, For Heresey is in her pow'r, And gloriously she'll whang her Wi' pith this day. IV. Come, let a proper text be read, Or Phineast drove the murdering blade, Was like a bluidy tiger I' th' inn that day. V. There, try his mettle on the creed, And bind him down wi' caution, That Stipend is a carnal weed He taks but for the fashion ; And gie him o'er the flock, to feed, And punish each transgression: Genesis, ch. ix. ver. 22. + Numbers, ch. xxv. ver. 8. Exodus, ch. iv. ver. 25. Especial, rams that cross the breed, Spare them nae day. VI. Now auld Kilmarnock cock thy tail, Nae mair thou'lt rowte out-owre the dale, Because thy pasture's scanty; For lapfu's large o' gospel kail Shall fill thy crib in plenty, An' runts o' grace the pick aud wale, No gi'en by way o' dainty, But ilka day. VII, Nae mair by Babel's streams we'll weep, To think upon our Zion; And hing our fiddles up to sleep, Like baby-clouts a-dryin; Come, screw the pegs wi' tunefu' cheep, And o'er the thairms be tryin; Oh, rare! to see our elbucks wheep, An' a' like lamb-tails flyin Fu' fast this day! VIII. Lang Patronage, wi' rod o' airn, Has shor'd the Kirk's undoin, As lately F-nw-ck, sair forfairn, Has proven to its ruin ; |