M THE BEE, OR Dec. 12, 



may be at no lofs for underftanding it, a complete glof- 

 farj of the terms that here occur is fubjoined, on the 

 accuracy of which, it is believed, they may with cer- 

 tainty rely. 



'The Flowers of the Foreji. * 



ft is to be obferved that in the Scottiih dialed;, the final h in all, fall, 

 and other I'uch words, is omitted ; and they arc written a', fa', &c. 

 A few other words cic be expreiTcd by tinglifh words without peri- 

 phrafii, which are printed here below the line for eafy reference. 



I. 



I've heard a lilting * 



kave 



At the ewes milking, 



Laffes a' lilting before the break o' day, 



M _ Of 



But now I hear moaning 



bcmoaninf? 



On ilka green loaning "^ 



Since our bra' forrefters are a' wed away '^. 



atl weeded 



* That the Englifh reader may be able fully to comprehend the force 

 «f the allufions that occur in this little potm, let him be informed that 

 the fcene is laid in the country of Scotland, which at that time was 

 almoft wholly open and uninclofed. Farni-houfes, in thofe days, efpe- 

 cially near the border, were ufually |)laceJ near to each other in fmall 

 villages. The little corn land that belonged to thefe villages or toiun- 

 ttipi, as they were provincially called, were employed for the pafturage of 

 fheep or cattle; and it frequently happcr-cd i!.:i- the whole of the fheep be- 

 longingto one village, were tended by one flicpherd, and pent up each night 



a A i'lting, a cheerful kind of finging, alluding to a cuftom in Scot- 

 land, pratftifed on all occalions where country people, efpecially women, 

 are engaged in any kind of employment, the time of the fong being a 

 common meafure to all their operations. 



b Loaning, an opening between fields of corn, left uncultivated for 

 the fake of driving cattle to the homeftead from the diftant parts of the 

 farm. 



c Bra pronounced iraTO, means fometimes finery of drefs; but on many 

 cccafions, as here, it means excellent, worthy, deferving pcrfons. F»r- 

 rejiirs, a gencril name, poetically here affumed for the men of the 

 country. 



