Nature's Law. - A Poem Humbly Inscribed To G. H. Esq.

"Great nature spoke, observant man obey'd."
Pope.


    Let other heroes boast their scars,
        The marks of sturt and strife;
    And other poets sing of wars,
        The plagues of human life;
    Shame fa' the fun; wi' sword and gun
        To slap mankind like lumber!
    I sing his name, and nobler fame,
        Wha multiplies our number.

    Great Nature spoke with air benign,
        "Go on, ye human race!
    This lower world I you resign;
        Be fruitful and increase.
    The liquid fire of strong desire
        I've pour'd it in each bosom;
    Here, in this hand, does mankind stand,
        And there, is beauty's blossom."

    The hero of these artless strains,
        A lowly bard was he,
    Who sung his rhymes in Coila's plains
        With meikle mirth an' glee;
    Kind Nature's care had given his share,
        Large, of the flaming current;
    And all devout, he never sought
        To stem the sacred torrent.

    He felt the powerful, high behest,
        Thrill vital through and through;
    And sought a correspondent breast,
        To give obedience due:
    Propitious Powers screen'd the young flowers,
        From mildews of abortion;
    And lo! the bard, a great reward,
        Has got a double portion!

    Auld cantie Coil may count the day,
        As annual it returns,
    The third of Libra's equal sway,
        That gave another B[urns],
    With future rhymes, an' other times,
        To emulate his sire;
    To sing auld Coil in nobler style,
        With more poetic fire.

    Ye Powers of peace, and peaceful song,
        Look down with gracious eyes;
    And bless auld Coila, large and long,
        With multiplying joys:
    Lang may she stand to prop the land,
        The flow'r of ancient nations;
    And B[urns's] spring, her fame to sing,
        Thro' endless generations!