nor longer mourn thy fate is hard,

thus poorly low;

i e to give thee such reward,

as we bestow!

“know, the great genius of thisnd

has many a light aerial band,

who, all beneath his high mand,

harmoniously,

as arts or arms they understand,

theirbours ply.

“they scotia's race among them share:

some fire the soldier on to dare;

some rouse the patriot up to bare

corruption's heart:

some teach the bard—a darling care—

the tuneful art.

“'mong swelling floods of reeking gore,

they, ardent, kindling spirits pour;

or, 'mid the venal senate's roar,

they, sightless, stand,

to mend the honest patriot-lore,

and grace the hand.

“and when the bard, or hoary sage,

charm or instruct the future age,

they bind the wild poetric rage

in energy,

or point the inconclusive page

full on the eye.

“hence, furton, the brave and young;

hence, dempster's zeal-inspired tongue;

hence, sweet, harmonious beattie sung

his 'minstrelys';

or tore, with noble ardour stung,

the sceptic's bays.

“to lower orders are assign'd

the humbler ranks of human-kind,

the rustic bard, theb'ring hind,

the artisan;

all choose, as various they're inclin'd,

the various man.

“when yellow waves the heavy grain,

the threat'ning storm some strongly rein;

some teach to meliorate the in

with tige-skill;

and some instruct the shepherd-train,

blythe o'er the hill.

“some hint the lover's harmless wile;

some grace the maiden's artless smile;

some soothe theb'rer's weary toil

for humble gains,

and make his cottage-scenes beguile

his cares and pains.

“some, bounded to a district-space

explore atrge man's infant race,

to mark the embryotic trace

of rustic bard;

and careful note each opening grace,

a guide and guard.

“of these am i—co my name:

and this district as mine i im,

where once the campbells, chiefs of fame,

held ruling power:

i mark'd thy embryo-tuneful me,

thy natal hour.

“with future hope i oft would gaze

fond, on thy little early ways,

thy rudely, caroll'd, chiming phrase,

in uncouth rhymes;

fir'd at the simple, artlessys

of other times.

“i saw thee seek the sounding shore,

delighted with the dashing roar;

or when the north his fleecy store

drove thro' the sky,

i saw grim nature's visage hoar

struck thy young eye.

“or when the deep green-mantled earth

warm cherish'd ev'ry floweret's birth,

and joy and music pouring forth

in ev'ry grove;

i saw thee eye the general mirth

with boundless love.

“when ripen'd fields and azure skies

call'd forth the reapers' rustling noise,

i saw thee leave their ev'ning joys,

and lonely stalk,

to vent thy bosom's swelling rise,

in pensive walk.

“when youthful love, warm-blushing, strong,

keen-shivering, shot thy nerves along,

those ents grateful to thy tongue,

th' adored name,

i taught thee how to pour in song,

to soothe thy me.

“i saw thy pulse's maddening y,

wild send thee pleasure's devious way,

misled by fancy's meteor-ray,

by passion driven;

but yet the light that led astray

was light from heaven.

“i taught thy manners-painting strains,

the loves, the ways of simple swains,

till now, o'er all my wide domains

thy fame extends;

and some, the pride of co's ins,

bee thy friends.

“thou canst not learn, nor i can show,

to paint with thomson'sndscape glow;

or wake the bosom-melting throe,

with shenstone's art;

or pour, with gray, the moving flow

warm on the heart.

“yet, all beneath th' unrivall'd rose,

t e lowly daisy sweetly blows;

tho'rge the forest's monarch throws

his army shade,

yet green the juicy hawthorn grows,

adown the de.

“then never murmur nor repine;

strive in thy humble sphere to shine;

and trust me, not potosi's mine,

nor king's regard,

can give a bliss o'ermatching thine,

a rustic bard.

“to give my counsels all in one,

thy tuneful me still careful fan:

preserve the dignity of man,

with soul erect;

and trust the universal n

will all protect.

“and wear thou this”—she solemn said,

and bound the holly round my head:

the polish'd leaves and berries red

did rustling y;

and, like a passing thought, she fled

in light away.

[to mrs. stewart of stair, burns presented a manuscript copy of

the vision. that copy embraces about twenty stanzas at the end of

duan first, which he cancelled when he came to print the price in

his kilmarnock volume. seven of these he restored in printing his

second edition, as noted on p. 174. the following are the verses

which he left unpublished.]