DANCING WITH THE POETS. 150 



Endearing waltz! — to thy more melting tune 



Bow Irish jig and ancient rigadoon. 



Scotch reels, avaunt! and country dance, torero 



Your future claims to each fantastic toe! 



Waltz — waltz alone — both legs and arms demands, 



Liberal of feet, and lavish of her hands; 



Hands which may freely range in public sight 



Where ne'er before — but — pray "put out the light. 1 ' 



Me thinks the glare of yonder chandelier 



Shines much too far — or I am much too near; 



And true, though strange — Waltz whispers this remark, 



" My slippery steps are safest in the dark ! " 



But here the muse with due decorum halts, 



And lends her longest petticoat to Waltz. 



Lord Huron. 



As Tammie glowered amazed and curious. 



The mirth and fun grew fast and furious: 



The piper loud and louder blew, 



The dancers quick and quicker flew: 



They reeled, they set, they crossed, they cleekit, 



Till ilka carlin swat and reekit, 



And coost her duddies to the wark. 



And linket at it in her sark. 



The dancing pair that simply sought renown 

 By holding out to tire the other down. 



I turn from the rebuking morn — 



The cold gray sky and fading star — 

 And listen to the harp and horn, 



And see the waltzers near and far — 

 The lamps and flowers are bright as yet, 



And lips beneath more bright than they — 

 How can a scene so fair beget 



The mournful thoughts we bear away ! 



Robert Burn*. 



Goldsmith. 



X V. WW*. 



