AULD REIKIE.

AULD Reikie! wale o' ilka town

That Scotland kens beneath the moon;
Whare couthy chields at eʼening meet
Their bizzin craigs and mou's to weet;
And blithely gar auld Care gae by
Wi' blinkin and wi' bleerin eye.

Owre lang frae thee the Muse has been
Sae frisky on the Simmer's green,
Whan flowers and gowans wont to glent
In bonny blinks upo' the bent:
But now the leaves o' yellow dye,
Peel'd frae the branches quickly fly;
And now frae nouther bush nor brier
The spreckled mavis greets your ear;
Nor bonny blackbird skims and roves
To seek his love in yonder groves.

Then, Reikie, welcome! thou canst charm,
Unfleggit by the year's alarm.

AULD REIKIE.

Not Boreas, that sae snelly blows,
Dare here pap in his angry nose,
Thanks to our dabs, whase biggin stands
A shelter to surrounding lands!

Now Morn, with bonny purple smiles, Kisses the air-cock o' Saunt Giles; Rakin their een, the servant lasses

Early begin their lies and clashes.

Ilk tells her friend of saddest distress,

That still she bruiks frae scoulin' mistress;

And wi' her joe in turnpike stair,

She'd rather snuff the stinkin air,
As be subjected to her tongue,
Whan justly censur'd i' the wrong.

On stair, wi' tub or pat in hand, The barefoot housemaids loe to stand, That antrin fock may ken how snell Auld Reikie will at mornin smell:

AULD REIKIE.

Then, with an inundation big as

The burn that 'neath the Nor' Loch brig is,
They kindly shower Edina's roses,

To quicken and regale our noses.
Now some for this, wi' Satire's leese,
Hae gien auld Edinbrough a creesh :
But, without scourin nought is sweet;
The mornin smells that hail our street,
Prepare, and gently lead the way
To Simmer canty, braw, and gay.
Edina's sons mair eithly share
Her spices and her dainties rare,
Than he that's never yet been call'd
Aff frae his plaidie or his fauld.

Now stairhead critics, senseless fools!
Censure their aim, and pride their rules,
In Luckenbooths, wi' głowrin eye,
Their neebours sma'est faults descry.
Y

VOL. II.