TAM SAMSON'S * ELEGY.

An honest man's the noblest work of God.
POPE.

HAS auld K - seen the Deil?

Or great M

- thrawn his heel?

Or R‡ again grown weel,

To preach an' read?

"Na, waur than a'!" cries like a chiel,
Tam Samson's dead!

lang may grunt an' grane,

An' sigh, an' sab, an' greet her lane,
An' cleed her bairns, man, wife, an' wean,
In mourning weed;

To death she's dearly paid the kane ·
Tam Samson's dead!

The brethren of the mystic level,
May hing their head in wofu' bevel,

While by the nose the tears will revel,
Like onie bead;

Death's gien the lodge an unco devel:

Tam Samson's dead!

* When this worthy old sportsman went out last muir-fowl season, he supposed it was to be, in Ossian's phrase, "the last of his fields;" and expressed an ardent wish to die and be buried in the muirs. On this hint, the author composed his Elegy and Epitaph.

† A certain preacher, a great favorite with the million. Vide the Or. dination, stanza ii.

↑ Another preacher, an equal favorite with the few, who was at that time ailing. For him, see also the Ordination, stanza ix.

Wher. Winter muffles, up his cloak,
And binds the mire up like a rock;
When to the loughs the curlers flock,
Wi' gleesome speed,

Wha will they station at the cock?
Tam Samson's dead!

He was the king o' a' the core,
To guard, or draw, or wick a bore,
Or up the rink like Jehu roar,

In time of need;

But now he lags on death's hog-score. Tam Samson's dead!

Now safe the stately sawmont sail, And trouts bedropp'd wi' crimson haï, And eels well kenn'd for souple tail, And geds for greed,

Since dark in Death's fish-creel we wail Tam Samson dead!

Rejoice, ye birring paitricks a';

Ye cootle muircocks, crousely craw
Ye maukins, cock your fud fu' braw
Withouten dread;

Your mortal fae is now awa':

Tam Samson's dead!

That wofu' morn be ever mourn'd,
Saw him in shootin' graith adorn'd,
While pointers round impatient burn'd,
Fráe couples freed;

But, och he gaed, and ne'er returned:

Tam Samson's dead!

In vain auld age his body batters;
In vain the gout his ancles fetters!
In vain the burns come down like waters
An acre braid!

Now every auld wife, greetin, clatters,
Tam Samson's dead!

Owre many a weary hag he limpit,
An' ay the tither shot he thumpit,
Till coward Death behind him jumpit,
Wi' deadly feide

Now he proclaims, wi' tout o' trunipet,
Tam Samson's dead!

When at his heart he felt the dagger
He reel'd his wonted bottle-swagger,
But yet he drew the mortal trigger
Wi' weel-aim'd deed

"L-d, five!" he cried, an' owre did stagger: Tam Samson's dead!

Ilk hoary hunter mourn'd a brither;
Ilk sportsman youth bemoan'd a father;
Yon auld gray stane, amang the heather,
Marks out his head,

Whare Burns has wrote, in rhyming blether
Tam Samson's dead!

There low he lies, in lasting rest;
Perhaps upon his mould'ring breast
Some spitefu' muirfowl bigs her nest
To hatch an breed

Alas! nae mair he'd them molest!

Tam Samson's dead'

When August winds the heather wave,
And sportsmen wander by yon grave,
Three volleys let his mem'ry crave
O' pouther an' lead;

Till Echo answer frae her cave,
Tam Samson's dead!

Heav'n rest nis sa, where'er he be!
Is the wish o' monie mae than me:
He had twa faults, or may be three,
Yet what remead ?

Ae social honest man want we;

Tam Samson's dead!

THE EPITAPH.

TAM SAMSON's weel-born clay here lies;

Ye canting zealots spare him! ff honest worth in heaven rise,

Ye'll mend or ye won near him.

PER CONTRA.

Go, Fame, and canter like a filly
Thro' a' the streets an' neuks o' Killie;*
Tell ev'ry social, honest billie

To cease his grievin',

For yet, unskaith'd by death's gleg gullie,
Tam Samson's livin'.

ELEGY ON CAPTAIN MATTHEW HENDERSON

A GENTLEMAN WHO HELD THE PATENT FOR HIS HONOR IMMEDIATELY FROM ALMIGHTY GOD.

But now his radiant course is run,
For Matthew's course was bright;

His soul was like the glorious sun,
A matchless, heavenly light!

O DEATH! thou tyrant fell and bloody!
The muckle devil wi' a woodie

Haurl thee hame to his black smiddie,
O'er hurcheon hides,

And like stock-fis. come o'er his studdie
Wi' thy auld sides!

* Kilmarnock.