Lang may thy stevin fill wi' glee
The glens and mountains of Lochlee,

Which were right gowsty but for thee,

Whase sangs enamour

Ilk lass, and teach wi' melody

The rocks to yamour.

Ye shak your head, but, o'

my fegs,

Ye've set auld Scota* on her legs,

Lang had she lyen wi' beffs and flegs,
Bumbaz'd and dizzie ;

Her fiddle wanted strings and pegs,

Waes me! poor bizzie!

Since Allan's death naebody car'd
For anes to speer how Scota far'd,
Nor plack nor thristled turner war'd
To quench her drouth.

For frae the cottar to the laird

We a' rin South.

The Southland chiels indeed hae mettle,
And brawly at a sang can ettle,

Yet we right couthily might settle
O' this side Forth.

The devil pay them wi' a pettle
That slight the North.

Our countra leed is far frae barren,
It's even right pithy and aulfarren,
Oursells are neiper-like I warran

* The name Ross gives to his muse.

PART 3.]

L

The plot of the Fortunate Shepherdess, to which Dr. Beattie hints some exception might be taken by a nice critic, is certainly by no means pleasing. Ambition triumphs over the affections of the heart; and the humble, yet sincere lover, is discarded for a rival, whose chief recommendation is his wealth. But in the progress of the tale, there are beauties developed, which would justify even a warmer eulogium than Dr. B. has pronounced upon the work. "The celebrated Dr. Blacklock," says Dr. Irving," as I have learnt from one of his pupils, regarded it as equal to the pastoral comedy of Ramsay." And Mr. Pinkerton, who unfortunately could see nothing in the Gentle Shepherd to entitle it to a place among good compositions, says of Ross :-" Some of the descriptions are exquisitely natural and fine. The language and thoughts are more truly pastoral than any I have yet found in any poet, save Theocritus."

The songs published along with the Fortunate Shepherdess, include some which have not only, as Dr. B. remarks, been long known to the people of Angus, Mearns, and Aberdeenshire, but are very general favorites in Scotland; " The rock and the wee pickle tow;" "Married and woo'd and a';" "The bride's breast knot ;" &c. There are also several songs interspersed through the poem itself; and one which is very pleasing in the third canto, entitled the "Braes of Flaviana." It is to the tune of the Lass of Patie's Mill.

Of all the lads that be
On Flaviana's braes,
'Tis Colin bears the gree,

An' that a thousand ways;

Best on the pipe he plays,
Is merry, blyth, an' gay,
An' Jeany fair,' he says,
'Has stown my heart away.

Had I ten thousand pounds,
I'd all to Jeany gee,

I'd thole a thousand wounds
To keep my Jeany free :
For Jeany is to me,
Of all the maidens fair,
My jo, and ay shall be,
With her I'll only pair.

Of roses I will weave
For her a flow'ry crown,
All other cares I'll leave,
An' busk her haffets round;
I'll buy her a new gown,
Wi' strips of red an' blew,
An' never mair look brown,
For Jeany'll ay be new.

My Jeany made reply;
'Syn ye ha'e chosen me,
Then all my wits I'll try,
A loving wife to be.
If I my Colin see,

I'll lang for naething mair,

Wi' him I do agree

In weal an' wae to share.'

Although the "Fortunate Shepherdess" was re

The plot of the Fortunate Shepherdess, to which Dr. Beattie hints some exception might be taken by a nice critic, is certainly by no means pleasing. Ambition triumphs over the affections of the heart; and the humble, yet sincere lover, is discarded for a rival, whose chief recommendation is his wealth. But in the progress of the tale, there are beauties developed, which would justify even a warmer eulogium than Dr. B. has pronounced upon the work. "The celebrated Dr. Blacklock," says Dr. Irving, "as I have learnt from one of his pupils, regarded it as equal to the pastoral comedy of Ramsay." And Mr. Pinkerton, who unfortunately could see nothing in the Gentle Shepherd to entitle it to a place among good compositions, says of Ross :-" Some of the descriptions are exquisitely natural and fine. The language and thoughts are more truly pastoral than any I have yet found in any poet, save Theocritus."

"The

The songs published along with the Fortunate Shepherdess, include some which have not only, as Dr. B. remarks, been long known to the people of Angus, Mearns, and Aberdeenshire, but are very general favorites in Scotland; "The rock and the wee pickle tow;"" Married and woo'd and a';" bride's breast knot ;" &c. There are also several songs interspersed through the poem itself; and one which is very pleasing in the third canto, entitled the "Braes of Flaviana." It is to the tune of the Lass of Patie's Mill.

Of all the lads that be
On Flaviana's braes,
'Tis Colin bears the gree,