Nature's Law. - A Poem Humbly Inscribed To G. H. Esq.

"Great nature spoke, observant man obey'd." Pope.         Let other heroes boast their scars,             The marks of sturt and strife;         And other poets sing of wars,             The plagues of human life;         Shame fa' the fun; wi' sword and gun             To slap mankind like lumber!         I sing his name, and nobler fame,             Wha multiplies our number.         Great Nature spoke with air benign,             "Go on, ye human race!         This lower world I you resign;             Be fruitful and increase.         The liquid fire of strong desire             I've pour'd it in each bosom;         Here, in this hand, does mankind stand,             And there, is beauty's blossom."         The hero of these artless strains,             A lowly bard was he,         Who sung his rhymes in Coila's plains             With meikle mirth an' glee;         Kind Nature's care had given his share,             Large, of the flaming current;         And all devout, he never sought             To stem the sacred torrent.         He felt the powerful, high behest,             Thrill vital through and through;         And sought a correspondent breast,             To give obedience due:         Propitious Powers screen'd the young flowers,             From mildews of abortion;         And lo! the bard, a great reward,             Has got a double portion!         Auld cantie Coil may count the day,             As annual it returns,         The third of Libra's equal sway,             That gave another B[urns],         With future rhymes, an' other times,             To emulate his sire;         To sing auld Coil in nobler style,             With more poetic fire.         Ye Powers of peace, and peaceful song,             Look down with gracious eyes;         And bless auld Coila, large and long,             With multiplying joys:         Lang may she stand to prop the land,             The flow'r of ancient nations;         And B[urns's] spring, her fame to sing,             Thro' endless generations!