Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/233
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE POEMS OF BURNS.
177
A TOAST
GIVEN AT A MEETING OF THE DUMFRIESSHIRE VOLUNTEERS, HELD TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF RODNEY'S VICTORY, APRIL 12TH, 1782.
Instead of a Song, boys, I'll give you a Toast,—
Here's the memory of those on the twelfth that we lost:
That we lost, did I say? nay, by heav'n, that we found,
For their fame it shall last while the world goes round.
The next in succession, I'll give you the King,
Whoe'er would betray him, on high may he swing!
And here's the grand fabric, our free Constitution,
As built on the base of the great Revolution;
And longer with Politics, not to be cramm'd,
Be Anarchy curs'd, and be Tyranny damn'd;
And who would to Liberty e'er prove disloyal,
May his son be a hangman, and he his first trial!
Here's the memory of those on the twelfth that we lost:
That we lost, did I say? nay, by heav'n, that we found,
For their fame it shall last while the world goes round.
The next in succession, I'll give you the King,
Whoe'er would betray him, on high may he swing!
And here's the grand fabric, our free Constitution,
As built on the base of the great Revolution;
And longer with Politics, not to be cramm'd,
Be Anarchy curs'd, and be Tyranny damn'd;
And who would to Liberty e'er prove disloyal,
May his son be a hangman, and he his first trial!
ON SEEING THE BEAUTIFUL SEAT OF LORD GALLOWAY.
What dost thou in that mansion fair?
Flit, Galloway, and find
Some narrow, dirty, dungeon cave,
The picture of thy mind!
Flit, Galloway, and find
Some narrow, dirty, dungeon cave,
The picture of thy mind!
ON THE SAME.
No Stewart art thou, Galloway,
The Stewarts all were brave;
Besides, the Stewarts were but fools,
Not one of them a knave.
The Stewarts all were brave;
Besides, the Stewarts were but fools,
Not one of them a knave.
ON THE SAME.
Bright ran thy line, O Galloway,
Thro' many a far-fam'd sire!
So ran the far-famed Roman way,
So ended in a mire!
Thro' many a far-fam'd sire!
So ran the far-famed Roman way,
So ended in a mire!
TO THE SAME,
ON THE AUTHOR BEING THREATENED WITH HIS RESENTMENT.
Spare me thy vengeance, Galloway,
In quiet let me live:
I ask no kindness at thy hand,
For thou hast none to give.
In quiet let me live:
I ask no kindness at thy hand,
For thou hast none to give.