University of Virginia Library

THE Fair MAID OF DUMBLAIN.

The Authors of Romances and Novels
Talk big of flut'ring Beaux and sparkling Belles;
Strephon the Lovers sprung from noble Blood,
And Cœlia is a rich and lovely Prude:
To great Folk Cupid only is a Guest;
Love dare not reign in a Plebeian Breast:
The Poor do like unthinking Atoms dance,
And marry, as the World was made, by Chance.
This Poets and Philosophers advance:
Wise as they are, they may be in the wrong,
Altho' the last was great Lucretius's Song.
The Gods, say they, have a superiour Care,
A thousand Sylphs sit on Belinda's Hair;
Protect bright Cloe when she plays at Omber:
And being aerial Spirits cannot Slumber.
These Ladys guard at Tea and Mattadores,
Because they're Rich and Great, tho sometimes W---
The Gods despise a Linsey Woolsey Gown;
But to the rusling Silks Respect is shown.
Yet under Favour, 'tis not my Opinion,
For little Cupid hath a large Dominion.
Great Wits may with their learned Logick fail,
And I with my blunt Eloquence prevail:
Then hear with Patience this my Covntry Tale.
In Days of Old, when Kenneth rul'd the Nation,
And Trews and naked Buttocks were in Fashion,
Maids did not Fence their Bums with Ribs of Whales
But just as Nature made them wore their T---ls.
The Scope of all love Tales and am'rous Charms
Is to have naked Meg claspt in our Arms.
There liv'd within an humble Highland Cottage
An honest Pair, but both of them in Dottage,
Donald, who never heard of foreign News,
Convers'd with Horse and Sheep and droves of Cows.
Jolly Marg'ry was his aged Spouse:
Twice twenty Years made up their wedlock State;
Their Means were competent, not very great;
A lovely Daughter bless'd their hoary Hairs,
The only Pledge of all their youthful Years.
For Stature, Manners and a lovely Face,
She was the very Proverb of the Place;
The Darling of her Family and Friends;
In blooming Youth just enter'd in her Teens.
The beauteous Maid, Corisca was her Name,
Thro' neighbouring Shires had spread a lasting Fame
From ev'ry Corner of the Country came
A Lover, to make known his am'rous Flame.
A learn'd Clerk, five Tradesmen, and a Swain
Call'd Colin, who dwelt in the neighbouring Plain,
Made up the Number of Corisca's Train.
The Scribe was famous for his ploding Nodle,
Told her dark Stories out of Aristotle,
Was very grave, but Colin took his Bottle.
The Tradesmen they were wealthy proud and vain;
But Colin was an honest humble Swain.
Tho' rich as Cræsus, and as wise as Solon,
Corisca would have none, save only Colin.
Small worldly Substance fell to Colin's Share;
But he was open, plain and debonair,
Of equal Temper, stedfast as the Rocks,
Chearful as May and harmless as his Flocks:
Good Face, good Shapes, good Nature, and good Sense
Are Qualities should make a Man a Prince.
Colin enjoy'd these in a high degree;
Corisca lov'd him well, and only he.
Her Parents Government was soft and mild,
They never spoke but when they spoke they smil'd,
And she knew all the Duties of a Child.
On Morning aged Donald and his Wife
Says Daughter, you're the Solace of our Life,
Our Age's prop, our Joys of Life are gone,
And yours, sweet Child, we hope are drawing one.
O bring us not with Sorrow to the Grave,
It's but a single Favour that we crave,
Wed ere we dy, but don't with Colin wed,
And when we've seen you in the nuptial Bed;
Our aged, crazy, tot'ring Bones, we trust,
Will soon thereafter sleep in peaceful Dust.
Mournful Corisca knew not what to do;
Loth to refuse, and loth to make the Vow;
She did the last as safest of the two.
Parents, she says, 'tis you that gave me Life,
Till you Consent, I ne'er shall be a Wife.
Hear me ye Heav'ns, I make this sacred Vow,
To Marry as my Parents shall allow.
But Maidens Vows are Wind, and nothing else:
And this the sequel of my Story tells.
Once as the Sun the western Skies stole down,
And in the East arose the silver Moon;
Now toyling Heifers, wounded with the Goad,
Are all released from the servile Load:
Now from the Moors the Hunters homeward ride
With umquhile Maukin dangling at their Side:
From distant Hamlet hungry School-Boy comes,
With runing Nose, and blowing o'er his Thumbs:
To neighb'ring Ale-House tipling Curate goes
With tatter'd Crape to take a deep Carouse:
From verdant Woods with sounding Horns the Swains
Bring home the milky Mothers of the Plains.
Corisca goes to Boughts to milk the Ews,
And spys her Colin whistl'ing o'er the Knows,
Driving his Charge down to the nightly Fold;
His yellow Hair was like the streaming Gold;
He grac'd his Trews his Crook and Tartan-Plade;
As fine as Kenneth was the Swain arrai'd.
The Lass was singing with a thoughtless Air,
For, saving Love, she had no wordly Care.
Corisca chuckled when the Lad she view'd;
A Joy went tingling thro' her Mass of Blood.
Once she had growing Thoughts to be his Wife;
A rapid Pleasure touch'd the Strings of Life.
Colin soon folded up his woolly Drove,
And runs to quench his eager Thirst of Love.
Kind Words he spoke, his weary'd Head did rest
Upon the peaceful Pillow of her Breast.
Around her Waste his loving Arm was spread;
There he solac'd upon the downy Bed.
Often did Colin his Corisca kiss,
The certain Pledges of a future Bless.
The loving Pair upon green Pastures lay;
And made the Ev'ning for to crown the Day.