Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd |
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Hughie's Advice to Dauvit to Enjoy the
Fine Weather. |
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 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
1
Hughie's Advice to Dauvit to Enjoy the Fine Weather.
“Gratia cum nymphis geminisque sororibus audet
Ducere nuda choros.”
—Car. iv. 7.
Ducere nuda choros.”
—Car. iv. 7.
An' noo ance mair the Lomon'
Has donn'd his mantle green,
An' we may gang a-roamin'
Thro' the fields at e'en;
Has donn'd his mantle green,
An' we may gang a-roamin'
Thro' the fields at e'en;
An' listen to the rustlin'
O' green leaves i' the shaw,
An' hear the blackbird whistlin'
Winter weel awa'.
O' green leaves i' the shaw,
An' hear the blackbird whistlin'
Winter weel awa'.
2
Sae mild's the weather, Dauvit,
That was but late sae bauld,
We gang withoot a grauvit,
Careless o' the cauld.
That was but late sae bauld,
We gang withoot a grauvit,
Careless o' the cauld.
An' juist the ither nicht, man,
Twa barefit Mays were seen
(It maun hae been a sicht, man!)
Dancin' on the green.
Twa barefit Mays were seen
(It maun hae been a sicht, man!)
Dancin' on the green.
It sets a body thinkin'
Hoo quick the moments fly,
Hoo fast the days gang linkin'!
Spring 'ill sune be by;
Hoo quick the moments fly,
Hoo fast the days gang linkin'!
Spring 'ill sune be by;
Then Simmer wi' the roses,
Then Autumn wi' the grain;
Then Winter comes an' closes
A' thing ance again!
Then Autumn wi' the grain;
Then Winter comes an' closes
A' thing ance again!
An' yet, tho' short her range is,
Dame Nature's never dune;
She just repeats the changes,
Just renews the tune.
Dame Nature's never dune;
She just repeats the changes,
Just renews the tune.
3
The auld mune to her ruin
Gangs rowin' doon the sky,
When, swith, a braw bran new ane
Cocks her horn on high!
Gangs rowin' doon the sky,
When, swith, a braw bran new ane
Cocks her horn on high!
Alas! when oor short mornin'
Slides doun the slope to nicht,
There's neither tide nor turnin'
Back to life an' licht.
Slides doun the slope to nicht,
There's neither tide nor turnin'
Back to life an' licht.
We fa' as fell oor faithers
Into the narrow hame,
An' fog forgetfu' gaithers
Owre oor very name.
Into the narrow hame,
An' fog forgetfu' gaithers
Owre oor very name.
But what needs a' this grievin'
For griefs we dinna feel?
Let's leeve as lang's we're leevin',
Lauch as lang's we're weel.
For griefs we dinna feel?
Let's leeve as lang's we're leevin',
Lauch as lang's we're weel.
An' if it's gude i' gloamin'
It's better sune than syne
To rise an' gang a-roamin'
Noo the weather's fine.
It's better sune than syne
To rise an' gang a-roamin'
Noo the weather's fine.
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |