Wasting, I ween, the live-lang day

In am'rous rhime?

The hour will come, thou'lt sigh, and say,

What loss o' time!

Yet, wharfore shou'd nae youth engage
In pleasures suited to its age?

To catch the tids o' life is sage,

Some joys to save:

Wha kens the fights he's doom'd to wage
This side the grave!

To sport on fancy's flowery brink,
And beek a wee in love's warm blink,

Is wiser far, I'm sure, than think

O' distant harm,

Whan eild and cauld indiff'rence shrink,

Frae pleasure's charm.

Then strike, sweet muse, the trembling lyre,
Ance mair do thou the sang inspire ;-
Ah! check nae yet the glowing fire,

Though health divine,

And youth, and pleasure's fond desire

Fast, fast decline!

Attune the lay! whan nature's charm
First seiz'd his bosom fluttering warm,
Ere care yet came, wi' dread alarm,

Or friendship's guile;

Or fortune, wi' uplifted arm,

And treach❜rous smile.

Attune the lay that should adorn

Ilk verse descriptive o' the morn,

Whan round Forth's Links o' waving corn,

At peep o' dawn,

Frae broomy know the whitening thorn
He raptur'd ran:

Or fragrant whar, at opening day,
The whins bloom sweet on Aichil brae;
There, whan inspir'd by lofty lay,

He'd tak his flight,

And towering climb, wi' spirits gay,
Demyit's height.

O grandeur far than Windsor's brow!
And sweeter too the vale below!
Whar Forth's unrivall'd windings flow

Through varied grain,

Brightening, I ween, wi' glittering glow

Strevlina's plain!

There raptur'd trace (enthron'd on hie)
The landscape stretching on the ee,
Frae Grampian heights down to the sea,

(A dazzling view!)

Corn, meadow, mansion, water, tree,

In varying hue.

Owre lofty here, ilk charm to trace,

That deck, sweet plain! thy cultur'd face;

*One of the highest of the Ochil hills that bound the Carse of Stirling to the east.

Aft down the steep he'd tak a race,

Nor, rinning, flag,

Till up he'd climb, wi' rapid pace,

Yonabbey craig.'

There seated, mark, wi' ardour keen,
The skelloch bright 'mang corn sae green,
The purpled pea, and speckled bean,

A fragrant store!

And vessels sailing, morn and e'en,

To Stirling shore.'

But aftner far, he'd late and air,

To yonder castled height† repair,

Whar youth's gay sports, relax'd frae care,

Cheat learning's toils,

And round her Doig'st classic chair

Fond genius smiles!

'Twas here, O Forth! for luve o' thee, Frae wine, and mirth, and cards he'd flee; Here too, unskill'd, sweet Poesy!

He woo'd thy art

Alas! nor skill nor guide had he,

Save warmth o' heart!

Yet feckless as his numbers fell,
Nae tongue his peacefu' joys can tell,

The wild mustard.

+ The castle hill of Stirling, from which the finest view of the Carse is seen.

Dr. David Doig, master of the Grammar School, where he taught near forty years. A man whose uncommon erudition and genius entitled to a higher station.

Whan crooning quiet by himsel,

He fram'd the lay

On Gowland's whin-beflowered hill

And rocky brae.

How richly then the landscape glow'd
As fast the welcome numbers flow'd!
How smooth the plying bargie* row'd

Frae shore to shore!

How saft the kye in King's park low'd,
At milking hour!

And ah! how sweet the murmur rang
Frae busy labour's rural thrang!
That sta' the upland heights amang,

And echoing spread

Owre Castle, Butts, and Knot, alang

The Backwalk shade;

Dear, peacefu' scenes! how sweet to sing!
Whan youth and luve are on the wing;

Whan morn's fresh gales their fragrance bring, Wi' balmy sough,

And e'ening paints (how green in spring!)

Thebraes o' Tough!'

But sweet, thro' a' the varying year
Will Airthrie's banks and woods appear;
And crouse Craigforth, and princely Keir,

That crowns the scene;

And Allan water, glittering near

Its bleaching green.

* The abbey ferry boat.

And Blair, half hid in sylvan shade,

Where Taste and Home* delighted stray'd;
What time? whan Lare and Genius filed

Frae bar and town,

To Teath's clear stream, that babbling play'd By Castle Down

And Shaw-park, gilt wi' e'ening's ray;
And Embro's castle, distant grey;†
Wi' Alva, screen'd near Aichil brae,

'Mang grove and bower!

And rich Clackmannan, rising gay,

Wi' woods and tower;

These aft he trac'd, fond nature's child!
But maist at e'ening blushing mild,
As owre the western cliffs sae wild

O' Lomond's height

The sun in setting glory smil'd

Wi' purple light!

'Twas then, by gloaming's sober hour, He'd court some solitude obscure;

Or round Cam'skenneth's§ ancient tower,

* Henry Home, Lord Kames, one of the Senators of the College of Justice, and author of many ingenious and learned performances.

+ Edinburgh castle, though distant 35 miles from Stirling, is seen from the castle hill in a favourable day.

Ben Lomond, the highest of the Grampian mountains that bound the Carse of Stirling to the north-west.

The abbey of Cambuskenneth, founded by David I, king of Scotland, anno 1147.