Dramas Translations, and Occasional Poems. By Barbarina Lady Dacre.[i.e. Barbarina Brand] In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
 |
|
| II. |
 | Dramas |  |
260
IMITATION OF BURNS.
[_]
FRAGMENT, IN REPLY TO A LETTER OF AN ARDENT ADMIRER OF BURNS, WHICH CONTAINED EXPRESSIONS TOO COMPLIMENTARY TO MYSELF.
Ah! find some city hizzie bra',
Nor seek auld Wolsey's mouldering wa',
To throw sic courtly parle awa',
Auld crones amang,
As wad turn tapsaltary a'
Brains mickle strang.
Nor seek auld Wolsey's mouldering wa',
To throw sic courtly parle awa',
Auld crones amang,
As wad turn tapsaltary a'
Brains mickle strang.
For mine by time a' silver'd o'er,
Is fenced fra' flattery's treach'rous lore,
Yet flattery fain wad ope the door
O' ilka lug,
An' pu' down prudence, wa' and tower,
Crash at ane tug.
Is fenced fra' flattery's treach'rous lore,
Yet flattery fain wad ope the door
O' ilka lug,
An' pu' down prudence, wa' and tower,
Crash at ane tug.
Och, Flattery! saft, an' smooth, an' deft,
Thou's mony a shift deceitfu' left!
For when auld Time, the carle, has reft
The sonsie face,
Thou'll say he gies to pay the theft
A nobler grace!
Thou's mony a shift deceitfu' left!
261
The sonsie face,
Thou'll say he gies to pay the theft
A nobler grace!
Where virtue's cannie air is found!
Experience! learning's charm profound!
Of counsel sage the witching sound!
And fifty more
Sic grizly ghaists fra' underground,
To deck twa' score.
Experience! learning's charm profound!
Of counsel sage the witching sound!
And fifty more
Sic grizly ghaists fra' underground,
To deck twa' score.
But, hinnie, an' ye'd ken the truth,
Place in this scale ane ivory tooth,
Ane dimpled smile, ane ringlet smooth,
And a' thegither,
Shall ilka crone exclaim forsooth,—
“A feint for t' ither!”
Place in this scale ane ivory tooth,
Ane dimpled smile, ane ringlet smooth,
And a' thegither,
Shall ilka crone exclaim forsooth,—
“A feint for t' ither!”
Hampton Court Palace, July,
1807.
| Dramas | |