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University of Virginia Library

The Poems of Robert Fergusson

Edited by Matthew P. McDiarmid

Fergusson, Robert (1750-1774)

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ELEGY, On the Death of Mr David Gregory, late Professor of Mathematics in the University of St Andrews.

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SONGS FROM ARTAXERXES.

[From Act II. Scene II.]

[From Act II. Scene VI.]

[From Act III. Scene VII.]

I.

PASTORAL I. MORNING.

II.

PASTORAL II. NOON.

III.

PASTORAL III. NIGHT.

On the cold Month of April 1771.

A SATURDAY's EXPEDITION.

The DECAY of FRIENDSHIP.

Written at the Hermitage of Braid, near Edinburgh.

A Burlesque Elegy on the amputation of a Student's Hair, before his Orders.

FASHION. A POEM.

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The RIVERS of SCOTLAND.

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AIR, Tweedside.

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The TOWN and COUNTRY Contrasted.

On the DEATH of Mr THOMAS LANCASHIRE, Comedian.

CONSCIENCE. An ELEGY.

The King's Birth-Day in Edinburgh.

On the Death of Dr Toshack of Perth, a great humourist.

DAMON to his FRIENDS.

The Canongate Play-house in Ruins.

The PEASANT, the HEN and young DUCKS.

To Mr Guion, Comedian, for his Panegyric on Dr Walker, &c.

CALLER OYSTERS.

To Mr Robert Fergusson.

Answer to Mr J. S.'s Epistle.

On seeing a Lady paint herself.

Against repining at Fortune.

Epitaph on General Wolfe.

Epigram on the Epitaphs for General Wolfe.

To the Tron-kirk Bell.

Character of a Friend, in an Epitaph which he desired the Author to write.

The Delights of Virtue.

Lines addressed to Gavin Wilson.

A Tavern Elegy.

Mutual Complaint of Plainstanes and Causey, in their Mother-tongue.

The Rising of the Session.

The Sow of Feeling.

Epilogue, spoken by Mr Wilson, at the Theatre-royal, in the Character of an Edinburgh Buck. Written by R. Fergusson.

ODE to the BEE.

The Farmer's Ingle.

The Ghaists: A Kirk-yard Eclogue.

To R. FERGUSSON.

To ANDREW GRAY.

On seeing a Butterfly in the Street.

Hame Content. A Satire.

A Mournful Ditty from the Knight of Complaints

On seeing a Collection of Pictures painted by Mr Runciman .

On James Cumming.

Ode to the Gowdspink

An Expedition to Fife and the Island of May, on board the Blessed Endeavour of Dunbar, Captain Roxburgh Commander.

To the Principal and Professors of the University of St Andrews, on their superb treat to Dr Samuel Johnson.

On the Music-bells playing yesterday forenoon, prior to Brown and Wilson's execution, on the Deacons being presented to Council.

Elegy on John Hogg, late Porter to the University of St Andrews.

A POEM TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN CUNNINGHAM.

To Sir John Fielding, on his Attempt to suppress the Beggar's Opera

To Dr Samuel Johnson:

Epigram on seeing Scales used in a Mason Lodge.

Epigram on a Lawyer's desiring one of the Tribe to look with respect to a Gibbet.

EPIGRAM written Extempore, at the desire of a Gentleman who was rather ill-favoured, but who had a beautiful Family of Children.

On the Author's intention of going to Sea.

Epigram on James Boswell, Esq.; and Dr. Samuel Johnson being confined to the Isle of Sky.

The Sitting of the Session.

A DRINK ECLOGUE.

To my Auld Breeks.

Rob. Fergusson's Last Will.

Lines written to Collector Charles Lorimer.

Codicile to Rob. Fergusson's Last Will.

HORACE, Ode XI. Lib. I.

The AUTHOR's LIFE.

ODE to DISAPPOINTMENT.

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JOB, Chap III. Paraphrased.

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APPENDIX A. SONGS FROM THE ROYAL SHEPHERD.

[From Act I. Scene II.]

[From Act I. Scene III.]

[From Act I. Scene VI.]

[From Act I. Scene VII.]

[From Act I. Scene VIII.]

[From Act II. Scene IV.]

[From Act II. Scene V.]

[From Act II. Scene VII.]

[From Act II. Scene IX.]

[From Act III. Scene I.]

[From Act III. Scene III.]

[From Act III. Scene IV.]

[From Act III. Scene V.]

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ODE to DISAPPOINTMENT.

I

Thou joyless fiend, life's constant foe,
Sad source of care and spring of woe,
Soft pleasure's hard controul;
Her gayest haunts for ever nigh,
Stern mistress of the secret sigh,
That swells the murm'ring soul.

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II

Why haunt'st thou me thro' desart drear?
With grief-swoln sounds why wound my ear,
Denied to pity's aid?
Thy visage wan did e'er I woo,
Or at thy feet in homage bow,
Or court thy sullen shade.

III

Even now enchanted scenes abound,
Elysian glories strew the ground,
To lure th'astonish'd eyes;
Now Horrors, Hell, and Furies reign,
And desolate the fairy scene
Of all its gay disguise.

IV

The passions, at thy urgent call,
Our reasons and our sense inthrall
In frenzy's fetters strong.
And now despair with lurid eye
Doth meagre poverty discry,
Subdu'd by famine long.

V

The lover flies the haunts of day,
In gloomy woods and wilds to stray,
There shuns his Jessy's scorn;
Sad sisters of the sighing grove
Attune their lyres to hapless love,
Dejected and forlorn.

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VI

Yet hope undaunted wears thy chain,
And smiles amidst the growing pain,
Nor fears thy sad dismay;
Unaw'd by power her fancy flies
From earth's dim orb to purer skies,
Realms of endless day.