University of Virginia Library

[To the Duchess of Queensberry]

Queensberys Come Thrice welcome Fair
Propitious Heavens peculiar care
it maun be sae els gifts divine
in saul and form coud never shine
in sic profusion bright & even
but in a favourite of Heven
Be blyth ye Lads on Nytha's dale
Lead out the Lasses to the Green
Blaw saft ye winds ye skyes be clear
Spring with thy flowers busk out the year.
Ye Clouds had aff the suns fair face
that he may bleez with blythsome grace
ye tunefu birds frae wild repair
and with saft musick fill the air
Queensbery comes. Guard her ye Gods
and with all pleasures pave her Roads
Nyth hears the news and blythly turns
around to all her crystal Burns
and bids them lilt oer Heugh & how
their Joys as frae their heights they flow
with gushing heart he lifts his Head
and tells it to his Brother Tweed
wha Echo'st fra his Banks sae wide
to Leader haughs & Teviots side
Clyd hears oer Tintock tap the din
and Roars it oer the Corhouse Lin
so loud its heard beyond the Tay
oer the still ness & Rapid Spay
The welcome Sound soughs throw the air
arround the Bush aboon Traquair
Fair flowing forth enriching Tide
auld Edinburghs Blessing and her Pride
in solem state Calms ilka wave
and Joyns in gladness with the Lave
and well he may wha kens hell share
with Nyth th'influence of the Pair
Queensberys Lord and his Fair mate
who dare be Noble to be great
while sauls hem'd in with scrimper views
slave out dull lives in scrapes & Bows
and stick at nought to reek their ends
sae far as their laigh sence extends
but like clung Tods worry bot reuth
whatever faus into their Mouth
and these scorn laits used lang sin syne
to tent laws Humane & divine
tho ilka hour damnation wait
to doom them their deserved fate
as they sail tween lifes craigs & shauls
unmindfu of their threed bare sauls
stand yont vile things ye make me sick
thus in your characters to keek
while I the praise of patriots sing
who love their Countrey God & King
The first twa slighted by your Tribes,
the Last respected as he Bribes
Ah coud the morall moral muse but win
ane of five score frae this curst sin
how Blyth shed be & ne'er repine
altho the deel gat ninty nine
But thanks to H--- there's some yet Great
wha will prove stoups to prop the State
But Thanks to Heaven their's a kind flow
whase hearts with publick ardure Glow
who have enough and strive to cure
the publick wounds that hurt the poor
by easing their half Broken Backs
of ilka ill placed heavy Tax
For This the honest Labouring kind
Shall lift to god his greatfu mind,
and he whas cast in Rougher form
dares push his fortune throw a storm
while Jarring tides [and] Tempests Gowll
will to the patriots Toom the Bowl
and bend his knee ilk even & morn
that sic as Queensbery were born
The Merchant with delighted view
his shelves with goods all loaden bow
while qu[i]ck returns of cash secure
his Trade & make his credit sure.
Mechanicks of all kinds shall sing
God bless our patriots and our King
who now haf gart thae dutys sink
that poisned a' our meat & drink
The Herd upon the green hill side
shall tent his bleeting care with pride
& count hou many ells do grow
of Claith ilk day on Goop & Ew
Reverse of servile sauls that stinge
at courts and to vile catifs cringe
Queensbery with superiour smile
Looks doun upon a nest so vile
whase Presence like the heavnly Ray
gives all arround a bleez of Day
while Independance props her state
being ever Good as she is Great
To patriots tune each chearfu note
and Queensbery be neer forgot