No More Learning

Nor wanting ghosts of Tory fame.
Bold Scrimgeour[102] follows gallant Graham,[103]
Auld Covenanters shiver.
(Forgive, forgive, much-wrong'd Montrose!
Now death and hell engulph thy foes,
Thou liv'st on high for ever! )

Still o'er the field the combat burns,
The Tories, Whigs, give way by turns;
But fate the word has spoken:
For woman's wit and strength o' man,
Alas! can do but what they can!
The Tory ranks are broken.

O that my een were flowing burns,
My voice a lioness that mourns
Her darling cubs' undoing!
That I might greet, that I might cry,
While Tories fall, while Tories fly,
And furious Whigs pursuing!

What Whig but melts for good Sir James!
Dear to his country by the names
Friend, patron, benefactor!
Not Pulteney's wealth can Pulteney save!
And Hopeton falls, the generous brave!
And Stewart,[104] bold as Hector.

Thou, Pitt, shalt rue this overthrow;
And Thurlow growl a curse of woe;
And Melville melt in wailing!
How Fox and Sheridan rejoice!
And Burke shall sing, O Prince, arise,
Thy power is all prevailing!

For your poor friend, the Bard, afar
He only hears and sees the war,
A cool spectator purely;
So, when the storm the forests rends,
The robin in the hedge descends,
And sober chirps securely.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 95: John M'Murdo, Esq. , of Drumlanrig. ]

[Footnote 96: Fergusson of Craigdarroch. ]

[Footnote 97: Riddel of Friars-Carse. ]

[Footnote 98: Provost Staig of Dumfries. ]

[Footnote 99: Sheriff Welsh. ]

[Footnote 100: A wine merchant in Dumfries. ]

[Footnote 101: The executioner of Charles I. was masked. ]

[Footnote 102: Scrimgeour, Lord Dundee. ]

[Footnote 103: Graham, Marquis of Montrose. ]

[Footnote 104: Stewart of Hillside. ]

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CXVI.