Henry Erskine

“ Without one mark of honour but their fears;
“ T'hey live to see their fire deny’d a grave,
“ In lands his much lov’d children died to save:
“ Yet still in peace and safety did we live,
“ In peace and safety more than wealth can give. ”

“ And his rough face had seen a better day.
Around him, bleating, stray'd a scanty flock,
And a few goats o'erhung the neighbouring rock.
One faithful dog his sorrows seem'd to share,
And strove, with many a trick to ease his care. ”

“ Rear’d the scant produce of our niggard lands:
“ Scant as it was, no more our hearts desir'd,
"No more from us our gen’rous lord requir’d,
⁠“ But ah, sad change! those blessed days are o'er,
"And Peace, Content, and Safety charm no more.
"Another lord now rules those wide domains,
"The avaricious tyrant of the plains,
"Far, far from hence he revels life away,
"In guilty pleasures, our poor means must pay. ”