Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw

The friend of man, the friend of truth,The friend of age, and guide of youth:Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,Few heads with knowledge so informed:If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;If there is none, he made the best of this.

The wintry sun the day has clos’d,And I’ll awa to Nannie, O.The westlin wind blaws loud and shill;The night’s baith mirk an’ rainy, O;But I’ll get my plaid, an’ out I’ll steal,An’ owre the hills to Nannie, O.My Nannie’s charming, sweet, an’ young:Nae artfu’ wiles to Will ye, O:May ill befa’ the flattering tongueThat wad…

Where words ne’er cross’t the Muse’s heckles,Nor limpit in poetic shackles:A land that Prose did never view it,Except when drunk he stacher’t thro’ it;Here, ambush’d by the chimla cheek,Hid in an atmosphere of reek,I hear a wheel thrum i’ the neuk,I hear it—for in vain I leuk.The red peat gleams, a fiery kernel,Enhuskèd by a…

Your locks were like the raven,Your bonny brow was brent;But now your brow is bled, John,Your locks are like the straw,But blessings on your frosty pow,John Anderson my jo!John Anderson my jo, John,We clamb the hill thegitherAnd monie a cantie day, John,We’ve had wi’ ane anither;Now we maun totter down, John,And hand in hand we’ll…

And soundly sleeps the ever dearInhabitant below.Pardon my transport, gentle shade,While o’er the turf I bow;Thy earthy house is circumscrib’d,And solitary now.Not one poor stone to tell thy name,Or make thy virtues known:But what avails to me-to thee,The sculpture of a stone?I’ll sit me down upon this turf,And wipe the rising tear:The chill blast passes…

Till, in a declamation-mist,His argument he tint it:He gapèd for’t, he grapèd for’t,He fand it was awa, man;But what his common sense came short,He eked out wi’ law, man.MR. ERSKINECollected, Harry stood awee,Then open’d out his arm, man;His Lordship sat wi’ ruefu’ e’e,And ey’d the gathering storm, man:Like wind-driven hail it did assail’Or torrents owre…

And whilst that virtue warms my breastI’ll love my handsome Nell.As bonnie lasses I hae seen,And mony full as braw,But for a modest gracefu’ mienThe like I never saw.A bonnie lass, I will confess,Is pleasant to the ee,But without some letter qualitiesShe’s no a lass for me.But Nellie’s looks are blithe and sweet,And what is…

Whether thy airy, insubstantial shade(The rights of sepulture now duly paid)Spread abroad its hideous formOn the roaring civil storm,Deafening din and warring rageFactions wild with factions wage;Or under-ground, deep-sunk, profound,Among the demons of the earth,With groans that make the mountains shake,Thou mourn thy ill-starr’d, blighted birth;Or in the uncreated Void,Where seeds of future being fight,With…

The mirksome night did me enfauld,I knew na whare to lodge till day:By my gude luck a maid I met,Just in the middle o’ my care,And Kindly she did me inviteTo walk into a chamber fair.I bow’d fu’ low unto this maid,And thank’d her for her courtesie;I bow’d fu’ low unto this maid,An bade her…

Some narrow, dirty, dungeon cave,The picture of thy mind.———No Stewart art thou, Galloway,The Stewarts ‘ll were brave;Besides, the Stewarts were but fools,Not one of them a knave.Bright ran thy line, O Galloway,Thro’ many a far-fam’d sire!So ran the far-famed Roman way,And ended in a mire.———Spare me thy vengeance, Galloway!In quiet let me live:I ask no…

The coward slave, we pass him byWe dare be poor for a’ that.For a’ that, an’ a’ that,Our toil’s obscure, and a’ that;The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,-The man’s the gowd for a’ that.What though on hamely fare we dine,Wear hoddin’ grey, an’ a’ that?Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,-A man’s a…

Ev’ry pulse along my veins,Ev’ry roving fancy.To thy bosom lay my heart,There to throb and languish;Tho’ despair had wrung its core,That would heal its anguish.Take away those rosy lips,Rich with balmy treasure;Turn away thine eyes of love,Lest I die with pleasure!What is life when wanting Love?Night without a morning:Love’s the cloudless summer sun,Nature gay adorning.