368 THE SKY-LARK. 



Also — '■ 



" When rosy May comes in wi' flowers 

 To deck her gay green-spreading bowers, 

 The crystal waters gently fa', 

 The merry birds are lovers a'." 



And, as his test of constant love, he declares — 



' While birds rejoice in leafy bowers, 

 While bees delight in opening flowers, 

 While corn grows green in summer showers, 

 I'll love my gallant weaver." 



So we see a lassie could not like a weaver without the birds. 

 And in his song to " Menie " he correctly sings — 



" The wanton coot the water skims, 

 Among the reeds the ducklings cry, 

 The stately swan majestic sioims, 

 And everything is blest but I." 



On " Craigie Burn Wood " he also pensively sings — 



" I see the spreading leaves and flowers, 

 I hear the wild birds singing ; 

 But pleasure they hae nane for me, 

 While care my heart is wringing." 



Equally observant of his teachers is his song on " Afton 

 Water"— 



" Thou stock-dove, whose echo resounds through the glen, 

 Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den, 

 Thou green-crested lapwing thy screaming forbear — 

 I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair." 



In his smallest " Fragments " he introduces birds, for 

 instance — 



" Auld Ayr ran by before me, 

 And bicker 'd to the seas ; 

 A cushat croodled o'er me, 



That echoed through the braes." 



Birds of all kinds seem to have been his teachers, for he says — 



" While briers an' woodbines budding green, 

 And paitricks scraichin' loud at e'en, 

 An' morning poussie whidden seen, 

 Inspire my muse." 



Also — 



" As on the banks o' wandering Nith, 

 A'e smiling summer morn I strayed, 

 And traced its bonnie howes and haughs, 



Where Unties sang and lambkins played, 

 I sat me down upon a craig. 



And drank my Jill o' fancy's dream." 



