BY MR JOHN TAIT. "When Winter comes, the sweetest flow'ret drops;: "And oaks themselves must bend before the "storm." While thus I spake, a voice assail'd my ear: 'Twas sad ;-'twas slow; it fill'd my mind with dread! "Forbear," it cried-thy moral lays forbear: "Or change the strain, for FERGUSSON is dead! "Have we not seen him sporting on these plains?♪ "Have we not heard him strike the MUSE's lyre? "Have we not felt the magic of his strains, Which often glow'd with Fancy's warmest fire? "Have we not hop'd these strains would long be heard? "Have we not told how oft they touch'd the soul? ་་་་ BY MR JOHN TAIT. "And has not SCOTIA said, her youthful BARD "Might spread her fame ev'n to the distant pole? "But vain, alas! are all the hopes we rais'd; "Death strikes the blow-they sink-their co reign is o'er ; "And these sweet songs, which we so oft have "prais'd "These mirthful strains-shall now be heard "no more. "This, this proclaims how vain are all the joys "Which we so ardently wish to attain ; "Since ruthless Fate so oft, so soon destroys "The high-born hopes even of the MUSES' train.” I heard no more.-The cock, with clarion shrill, Loudly proclaim'd th' approach of morning nearThe voice was gone-but yet I heard it still For every note was echo'd back by fear. BY MR JOHN TAIT. "Perhaps," I cried, "ere yonder rising sun "Shall sink his glories in the western wave; "Perhaps ere then my race too may be run, "And I myself laid in the silent grave. "Oft then, O mortals! oft this dreadful truth "Should be proclaim'd-for fate is in the sound"That Genius, Learning, Health, and vigorou "Youth, May, in one day, in Death's cold chains be "bound." NOTES, TO VOLUME SECOND. NOTE 1, P. 21. Dr Wilkie had a farm near St. Andrews, on which he made great improvements. NOTE 2, P. 123. The Contractor for the lamps. NOTE 3, P. 130. A debating society; afterwards called the Pantheon. NOTE 4, and 5. P. 143. Alluding to two tunes under these Titles. The Poet alludes to a gentleman in Dunferm line, who sent him a challenge, being highly offended at the concluding reflection in the "Expedition to Fife. NOTE 7, P. 146. A bell in the college steeple. NOTE 9, P. 146. A name given by the students to one of the Members of the University. TO VOLUME SECOND. NOTE 10, P. 159. This Poem was written about the time a bill was in agitation for vesting the whole funds of Hospitals, and other charities throughout the Kingdom, in Government stock, at three per Cent. NOTE 11, and 12, P. 184. 185. Pandemonium and the Cape were two social Clubs NOTE 13, P. 193. Then keeper of the Tolbooth. NOTE 14, P. 194. An allusion to the state of the North Bridge after its fall. |