The Poems of Robert Fergusson :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Poems of Robert Fergusson

Edited by Matthew P. McDiarmid

Fergusson, Robert (1750-1774)

[section]

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

SONG.

SONGS FROM ARTAXERXES.

[From Act II. Scene II.]

[From Act II. Scene VI.]

[From Act III. Scene VII.]

II.

III.

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.

The RIVERS of SCOTLAND.

The TOWN and COUNTRY Contrasted.

RETIREMENT.

EXTEMPORE,

On the DEATH of Mr THOMAS LANCASHIRE, Comedian.

EXTEMPORE.

CONSCIENCE. An ELEGY.

The King's Birth-Day in Edinburgh.

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

The SIMILE.

DAMON to his FRIENDS.

The Canongate Play-house in Ruins.

The PEASANT, the HEN and young DUCKS.

A TALE.

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.

EXTEMPORE,

Against repining at Fortune.

Epitaph on General Wolfe.

Epigram on the Epitaphs for General Wolfe.

To the Tron-kirk Bell.

Good Eating.

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

The Delights of Virtue.

Lines addressed to Gavin Wilson.

Caller Water.

AULD REIKIE,

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.

The BUGS.

DIRGE.

To R. FERGUSSON.

To ANDREW GRAY.

On seeing a Butterfly in the Street.

Hame Content. A Satire.

Leith Races.

Summons.

A Mournful Ditty from the Knight of Complaints

Cape Song.

SONG.

On seeing a Collection of Pictures painted by Mr Runciman .

On James Cumming.

TEA. A Poem.

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.

The ELECTION.

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.

DUMFRIES.

A POEM TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN CUNNINGHAM.

SONG.

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.

SONG.

ODE to DISAPPOINTMENT.

JOB, Chap III. Paraphrased.

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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150

DIRGE.

I

The waving yew or cypress wreath
In vain bequeathe the mighty tear;
In vain the awful pomp of death
Attends the sable shrouded bier.

II

Since Strephon's virtue's sunk to rest,
Nor pity's sigh, nor sorrow's strain,
Nor magic tongue, have e'er confest
Our wounded bosom's secret pain.

III

The just, the good, more honours share
In what the conscious heart bestows,
Than vice adorn'd with sculptor's care,
In all the venal pomp of woes.

IV

A sad-ey'd mourner at his tomb,
Thou, Friendship! pay thy rites divine,
And echo thro' the midnight gloom
That Strephon's early fall was thine.