 | Poems on several subjects |  |
An EPISTLE to Mr Robert Smith Schoolmaster at Kinnaird, upon his saying he would not stay in the Place.
Kirk of Collace, April 30th, 1750.
SIR,
If you were not over nice,
I'd humbly offer my advice,
And it is shortly this;
Stay at Kinnaird, for I do think
You want not company and drink,
And all things at your wish.
Upon a bank, afore the sun
Your house is situate;
A purling stream that round it run,
Commodious I wat:
With respect to prospect,
You have the Carse all o'er,
By Tay-side, where ay tide
Flows twice in twenty-four.
I'd humbly offer my advice,
And it is shortly this;
Stay at Kinnaird, for I do think
You want not company and drink,
And all things at your wish.
Upon a bank, afore the sun
Your house is situate;
A purling stream that round it run,
Commodious I wat:
With respect to prospect,
You have the Carse all o'er,
By Tay-side, where ay tide
Flows twice in twenty-four.
120
You live hard by the orchard wall,
Where mellow fruit unshaken fall,
Just at your very feet;
An able house well thatch'd aboon,
A garden near to rest at noon:
What should move you to flit?
Flocks feeding on the mountains round,
Where lambs do skip and play;
The feather'd kinds their music sound
To waken up the day:
You view then the plowmen
All whistling pleasantlie;
There's nae thing, but ae thing,
You want to happy be;
Where mellow fruit unshaken fall,
Just at your very feet;
An able house well thatch'd aboon,
A garden near to rest at noon:
What should move you to flit?
Flocks feeding on the mountains round,
Where lambs do skip and play;
The feather'd kinds their music sound
To waken up the day:
You view then the plowmen
All whistling pleasantlie;
There's nae thing, but ae thing,
You want to happy be;
And that's a wife, as I suppose,
That puts an end to lovers woes,
And calms the tide of life;
Which if you had, I dare well say,
You would not mint to go away;
Look out then for a wife:
And settle with your state content,
And tempt not Providence:
If you remove, you may repent,
Void both of peace and pence:
Neglect then, t'affect then,
Pride and inconstancie;
Engage in religion,
If you would happy be.
That puts an end to lovers woes,
And calms the tide of life;
Which if you had, I dare well say,
You would not mint to go away;
Look out then for a wife:
And settle with your state content,
And tempt not Providence:
If you remove, you may repent,
Void both of peace and pence:
Neglect then, t'affect then,
Pride and inconstancie;
Engage in religion,
If you would happy be.
Your youth-hood makes you fickle yet,
And makes you your affections set
On vanity and gain:
But be advis'd to mortify
Your youthfu' laits by piety;
Ambitious to obtain
Eternal happiness at last,
When this frail body dies;
For pleasures here will soon be past;
All are but vanities.
Be plain then, remain then
Still in that hearty place;
Discerning youth's learning,
And your own growth in grace.
And makes you your affections set
On vanity and gain:
But be advis'd to mortify
Your youthfu' laits by piety;
Ambitious to obtain
Eternal happiness at last,
When this frail body dies;
For pleasures here will soon be past;
All are but vanities.
121
Still in that hearty place;
Discerning youth's learning,
And your own growth in grace.
Your father's counsel keep in mind;
Let not thy brain be stuff'd with wind,
To drive you here and there;
Like empty clouds that soar aloft,
With ev'ry tempest tossed oft
With violence through the air.
Consider, that a rolling stone
Contracts but little fog;
There is a dub at ev'ry town,
At some a sinking bog:
Look out, then, about then,
And seek a pious maid,
Both homely and comely;
Then will your mind be stay'd.
Let not thy brain be stuff'd with wind,
To drive you here and there;
Like empty clouds that soar aloft,
With ev'ry tempest tossed oft
With violence through the air.
Consider, that a rolling stone
Contracts but little fog;
There is a dub at ev'ry town,
At some a sinking bog:
Look out, then, about then,
And seek a pious maid,
Both homely and comely;
Then will your mind be stay'd.
This, with my hearty compliment,
I with the bearer have you sent,
That you may think upon it.
But yet 'tis scantly worth your pains;
'Tis the extract of wither'd brains,
A poor imperfect sonnet;
But you may trust 'tis from my heart
Whate'er I wish or say:
With you I have no will to part,
Therefore I wish your stay.
Admit, Sir, my wit, Sir,
Was never very meikle;
What then? I remain ay
Your servant
SANDY NICOL.
I with the bearer have you sent,
That you may think upon it.
But yet 'tis scantly worth your pains;
'Tis the extract of wither'd brains,
A poor imperfect sonnet;
But you may trust 'tis from my heart
Whate'er I wish or say:
With you I have no will to part,
Therefore I wish your stay.
Admit, Sir, my wit, Sir,
Was never very meikle;
What then? I remain ay
Your servant
SANDY NICOL.
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