thebrigsofayr apoem inscribedtojohnballantine,esq.,ayr. thesimplebard,roughattherusticplough, learninghistunefuradefromev'rybough thechantinglinnet,orthemellowthrush, hailingthesettingsun,sweet,inthegreenthornbush thesoaringlark,theperchingred-breastshrill, ordeep-ton'dploversgrey,wild-whistlingo'erthehill shallhe—nurstinthepeasant'slowlyshed, tohardyindependencebravelybred, byearlypovertytohardshipsteel'd. andtrain'dtoarmsinsternmisfortune'sfield— shallhebeguiyoftheirhirelingcrimes, theservile,mercenaryswissofrhymes? orlabourhardthepanegyricclose, withalhevenalsoulofdedicatingprose? no!thoughhisartlessstrainsherudelysings, andthrowshishanduncouthlyo'erthestrings, heglowswithalhespiritofthebard, fame,honestfame,hisgreat,hisdearreward. still,ifsomepatron'sgen'rouscarehetrace, skill'dinthesecret,tobestowwithgrace whenballantinebefriendshishumblename, andhandstherusticstrangeruptofame, withheartfethroeshisgratefulbosomswells, thegodlikebliss,togive,aloneexcels. 'twaswhenthestacksgetontheirwinterhap, andthackandrapesecurethetoil-woncrap potatoe-bingsaresnuggedupfraeskaith o'comingwinter'sbiting,frostybreath thebees,rejoicingo'ertheirsummertoils, unnumber'dbudsan'flow'rs'deliciousspoils, seal'dupwithfrugalcareinmassivewaxenpiles, aredoom'dbyman,thattyranto'ertheweak, thedeatho'devils,smoor'dwi'brimstonereek: thethunderinggunsareheardonev'ryside, thewoundedcoveys,reeling,scatterwide thefeather'dfield-mates,boundbynature'stie, sires,mothers,children,inonecarnagelie: (whatwarm,poeticheartbutinlybleeds, andexecratesman'ssavage,ruthlessdeeds!) naemairtheflow'rinfieldormeadowsprings, naemairthegrovewithairyconcertrings, exceptperhapstherobin'swhistlingglee, proudo'theheighto'somebithalf-langtree: thehoarymornsprecedethesunnydays, mild,calm,serene,widespreadsthenoontideblaze, whilethickthegosamourwaveswantonintherays. 'twasinthatseason,whenasimplebard, unknownandpoor—simplicity'sreward!— aenight,withintheancientbrughofayr, bywhiminspir'd,orhaplyprestwi'care, helefthisbed,andtookhiswaywardroute, anddownbysimpson'swheel'dtheleftabout: (whetherimpell'dbyall-directingfate, towitnesswhatiaftershallnarrate orwhether,raptinmeditationhigh, hewander'dout,heknewnotwhereorwhy:) thedrowsydungeon-clockhadnumber'dtwo, andwallacetowerhadswornthefactwastrue: thetide-swolnfirth,withsullen-soundingroar, throughthestillnightdash'dhoarsealongtheshore. allelsewashush'dasnature'sclosede'e thesilentmoonshonehigho'ertowerandtree thechillyfrost,beneaththesilverbeam, crept,gently-crusting,o'ertheglitteringstream— when,lo!oneitherhandthelist'ningbard, theclangingsughofwhistlingwingsisheard twoduskyformsdartthroughthemidnightair swiftasthegosdrivesonthewheelinghare aneonth'auldbrighisairyshapeuprears, theotherflutterso'ertherisingpiers: ourwarlockrhymerinstantlydexcried thespritesthatowrethebrigsofayrpreside. (thatbardsaresecond-sightedisnaejoke, andkenthelingoofthesp'ritualfolk fays,spunkies,kelpies,a',theycanexplainthem, andeventheverydeilstheybrawlykenthem). auldbrigappear'dofancientpictishrace, theverywrinklesgothicinhisface heseem'dashewi'timehadwarstl'dlang, yet,teughlydoure,hebadeanuncobang. newbrigwasbuskitinabrawnewcoat, thathe,atlon'on,fraeaneadamsgot in'shandfivetaperstavesassmooth'sabead, wi'virlsandwhirlygigumsatthehead. thegothwasstalkingroundwithanxioussearch, spyingthetime-wornflawsineveryarch itchanc'dhisnew-comeneibortookhise'e, ande'enavexedandangryhearthadhe! wi'thievelesssneertoseehismodishmien, he,downthewater,gieshimthisguid-e'en:— auldbrig “idoubtna,frien',ye'lhinkye'renaesheepshank, anceyewerestreekitowrefraebanktobank! butginyebeabrigasauldasme— tho'faith,thatdate,idoubt,ye'llneversee— there'llbe,ifthatdaycome,i'llwadaboddle, somefewerwhigmaleeriesinyournoddle.” newbrig “auldvandal!yebutshowyourlittlemense, justmuchaboutitwi'yourscantysense: willyourpoor,narrowfoot-pathofastreet, wheretwawheel-barrowstremblewhentheymeet, yourruin'd,formlessbulko'staneandlime, comparewi'boniebrigso'moderntime? there'smenoftastewou'dtaktheducatstream, tho'theyshouldcasttheverysarkandswim, e'ertheywouldgratetheirfeelingswi'theview o'sicanugly,gothichulkasyou.” auldbrig “conceitedgowk!puff'dupwi'windypride! thismonyayeari'vestoodthefloodan'tide andtho'wi'crazyeildi'msairforfairn, i'llbeabrigwhenye'reashapelesscairn! asyetyelittlekenaboutthematter, buttwa—threewinterswillinformyebetter. whenheavy,dark,continued,a'-dayrains, wi'deepeningdelugeso'erflowtheplains whenfromthehillswherespringsthebrawlingcoil, orstatelylugar'smossyfountainsboil orwherethegreenockwindshismoorlandcourse. orhauntedgarpaldrawshisfeeblesource, arousedbyblusteringwindsan'spottingthowes, inmonyatorrentdownthesnaw-broorowes whilecrashingice,borneontherollingspate, sweepsdams,an'mills,an'brigs,a'tothegate andfromglenbuck,downtotheratton-key, auldayrisjustonelengthen'd,tumblingsea— thendownye'llhurl,(deilnoryeneverrise!) anddashthegumliejaupsuptothepouringskies! alessonsadlyteaching,toyourcost, thatarchitecture'snobleartislost!” newbrig “finearchitecture,trowth,ineedsmustsay'to't, thelordbethankitthatwe'vetintthegateo't! gaunt,ghastly,ghaist-alluringedifices, hangingwiththreat'ningjut,likeprecipices o'er-arching,mouldy,gloom-inspiringcoves, supportingroofs,fantastic,stonygroves windowsanddoorsinnamelesssculpturesdrest withorder,symmetry,ortasteunblest formslikesomebedlamstatuary'sdream, thecraz'dcreationsofmisguidedwhim formsmightbeworshipp'donthebendedknee, andstilheseconddreadcommandbefree theirlikenessisnotfoundonearth,inair,orsea! mansionsthatwoulddisgracethebuildingtaste ofanymasonreptile,birdorbeast: fitonlyforadoitedmonkishrace, orfrostymaidsforswornthedearembrace, orcuifsoflatertimes,whaheldthenotion, thatsullengloomwassterling,truedevotion: fanciesthatourguidbrughdeniesprotection, andsoonmaytheyexpire,unblestwi'resurrection!” auldbrig “oye,mydear-remember'd,ancientyealings, wereyebutheretosharemywoundedfeelings! yeworthyproveses,an'monyabailie, whainthepathso'righteousnessdidtoilaye yedaintydeacons,andyedouceconveners, towhomourmodernsarebutcausey-cleaners yegodlycouncils,whahaeblestthistown yegodlybrethreno'thesacredgown, whameeklygieyourhurdiestothesmiters and(whatwouldnowbestrange),yegodlywriters a'yedoucefolki'veborneaboonthebroo, wereyebuthere,whatwouldyesayordo? howwouldyourspiritsgroanindeepvexation, toseeeachmelancholyaeration and,agonising,cursethetimeandplace whenyebegatthebasedegen'raterace! naelangerrev'rendmen,theircountry'sglory, inplainbraidscotsholdforthaplainbraidstory naelangerthriftycitizens,an'douce, meetowreapint,orinthecouncil-house butstaumrel,corky-headed,gracelessgentry, theherrymentandruinofthecountry men,three-partsmadebytailorsandbybarbers, whawasteyourweel-hain'dgearondamn'dnewbrigsandharbours!” newbrig “nowhaudyouthere!forfaithye'vesaidenough, andmucklemairthanyecanmaktothrough. asforyourpriesthood,ishallsaybutlittle, corbiesandclergyareashotrightkittle: but,underfavouro'yourlangerbeard, abuseo'magistratesmightweelbespar'd tolikenthemtoyourauld-warldsquad, imustneedssay,comparisonsareodd. inayr,wag-witsnaemaircanhaeahandle tomouth'acitizen,'atermo'scandal naemairthecouncilwaddlesdownthestreet, inalhepompofignorantconceit menwhagrewwiseprigginowrehopsandraisins, orgather'dlib'ralviewsinbondsandseisins: ifhaplyknowledge,onarandomtramp, hadshor'dthemwithaglimmerofhislamp, andwouldtocommon-senseforoncebetray'dthem, plain,dullstupiditysteptkindlyintoaidthem.” whatfartherclish-ma-claveraightbeensaid, whatbloodywars,ifspriteshadbloodtoshed, nomancantellbut,allbeforetheirsight, afairytrainappear'dinorderbright adowntheglitteringstreamtheyfeatlydanc'd brighttothemoontheirvariousdressesglanc'd: theyfootedo'erthewat'ryglasssoneat, theinfanticescarcebentbeneaththeirfeet: whileartsofminstrelsyamongthemrung, andsoul-ennoblingbardsheroicdittiessung. ohadm'lauchlan,thairm-inspiringsage, beentheretohearthisheavenlybandengage, whenthro'hisdearstrathspeystheyborewithhighlandrage orwhentheystruckoldscotia'smeingairs, thelover'srapturedjoysorbleedingcares howwouldhishighlandlugbeennoblerfir'd, andev'nhismatchlesshandwithfinertouchinspir'd! noguesscouldtellwhatinstrumentappear'd, butalhesoulofmusic'sselfwasheard harmoniousconcertrungineverypart, whilesimplemelodypour'dmovingontheheart. thegeniusofthestreaminfrontappears, avenerablechiefadvanc'dinyears hishoaryheadwithwater-liliescrown'd, hismanlylegwithgarter-tanglebound. nextcametheloveliestpairinalhering, sweetfemalebeautyhandinhandwithspring then,crown'dwithflow'ryhay,cameruraljoy, andsummer,withhisfervid-beamingeye all-cheeringplenty,withherflowinghorn, ledyellowautumnwreath'dwithnoddingcorn thenwinter'stime-bleach'dlocksdidhoaryshow, byhospitalitywithcloudlessbrow: nextfollowedcouragewithhismartialstride, fromwherethefealwild-woodycovertshide benevolence,withmild,benignantair, afemaleform,camefromthetow'rsofstair learningandworthinequalmeasurestrode, fromsimplecatrine,theirlong-lov'dabode: last,white-rob'dpeace,crown'dwithahazelwreath, torusticagricuuredidbequeath thebroken,ironinstrumentsofdeath: atsightofwhomourspritesforgattheirkindlingwrath.