Janet Little

“ Inur’d to martial toil; at danger smiles,
And unconcern’d treads o’er the heaps of slain:
His en’mies fly before him; at his feet
Millions fall prostrate, and for mercy call:
Yet still in vain he makes his court to thee;
Thou scarce vouchsafes him one auspicious smile.
See lovers too, in yon sequester’d grove,
Seek lonely walks, and spend their sighs in vain,
For thee! For what? for some bewitching fair, [p. 35]
Whose smiles they deem can boundless bliss secure:
Their views contracted would thee thus confine. ”

“ They spend whole days and nights in sighs;
And will you disregard their moan,
And all their plaintive notes despise?
’Tis Autumn now, the fertile field,
Rich Ceres decks with yellow grain;
With joy we would our sickles wield,
If Nelly deign’d to grace the plain.
Come now and of our labours share;
None better can that weapon ply;
O mitigate Philander’s care,
Whose toil seems less when you are nigh. ”

“ I may be silent, but can’t love him less. FLAVIA.
Enough is said, Almeda dear, to prove
No fault is seen in those we truly love.
The son of Venus, by a magic art,
Deceives the sight, soon as he wounds the heart.
Blind as himself does all his vot’ries make,
Extremely happy in their own mistake.
In all his charms I have young Strephon seen,
Yet never by the youth have wounded been. [p. 66]
Yet were he, as you paint him, thus complete,
And fond to lay his garlands at your feet,
Sure young men’s minds still subject are to change,
Though from our plains he were not doom’d to range. ”

“ Vain are thy sorrows, vain the sighs of those,
Who did his favour or his friendship share:
He’s gone beyond the reach of human woes,
Above the weight of ev’ry worldly care. [p. 137]
Pure were the virtues center’d in his breast,
With unassuming rectitude they sway’d:
His tongue the dictates of his heart express’d,
While his mild manners more than words convey’d!
But human bliss is of a transient date,
Nor permanent thy woes, tho’ now severe:
Soon shall you meet in a celestial state,
And then no more the pangs of parting fear.
[p. 138]
ON THE
BIRTH OF J——. ”

“ The creatures all with whom the world was stor’d,
His sov’reign mandates with delight obey’d,
And own’d him as their universal lord.
What would he more, to render bless complete?
You say he lack’d the sweets of social life,
Until fair Eve, with charms divinely sweet,
Became his friend, his partner, and his wife [p. 187]
But think, fond youth, how transient was the bliss. ”

“ And nought but sighs from each dejected maid. [p. 38]
Rude Eurus echoing through the distant woods,
With harsh, discordant note, augments our wo;
While rains, impetuous, from the bursting clouds,
Our verdant walks and pleasure-grounds o’erflow.
Incumber’d by their foliage now, the trees,
With leaves, untimely dropp’d, bestrew the ground:
Because Matilda’s presence does not please,
All bleak and dismal seem the fields around.
Her placid looks bespoke a mind serene,
Each feature wore an unaffected smile;
Her’s was the pow’r to beautify the scene,
And sweetly gay the languid hours beguile. ”

“ From court, from cot, ev’n while they seek thy stay,
On thy soft pinions, rapid is thy flight.
Thy name, not substance, is to mortals known.
Repulse from thee makes drunkards stand aghast,
Who nightly revel o’er the flowing bowl.
In vain they seek thy progress to retard,
A guest too noble to be thus detain’d. [p. 33]
Thy quick elopement shews their sad mistake;
Baulks hope, and certain disappointment brings.
Misers for thee grope ’midst their bags of wealth,
Nor find thy residence in golden ore:
Fear, anxious care, bleak av’rice, and distrust,
Forbid thy access to the grov’ling soul. ”

“ At morn when I rise, I go down to the kitchen,
Where oft I’ve been treated with kicking and switching.
There’s nothing but quiet, no toil nor vexation,
The cookmaid herself seems possess’d of discretion. ”

“ Cows, calves and horses, plac’d before his sight,
A widow rich will well his love requite.
Poor Celia next, who, for some fickle swain,
Spends days in sorrow, and whole nights in pain:
It was his absence caus’d the maid to mourn,
But fam’d Alcanzar made him soon return. ”

“ WANDERING WOMAN, WHO LIVES BY THE WALL
AT LOUDOUN AND USED SOMETIMES TO
BE VISITED BY THE COUNTESS.
O JANET, by your kind permission,
My muse, in tatter’d low condition,
Would fain attempt, if you’ll allow,
To dedicate a song to you.
Possess’d of few attractive pow’rs,
Her case does much resemble yours;
So lest none else should deign to hear,
She humbly supplicates your ear. [p. 174]
Imprimis, she should compliment ye ”

“ From Irvine’s verdant banks, a doleful lay
Re-echo’d through the groves and distant dale;
Each vocal throat was fill’d with dire dismay,
And heart-felt sighs proclaim’d th’ unwelcome tale.
Quick and unstable are the turns of Fate ”

“ More sprightly youths may feel the smart,
And court thee with assiduous care;
But none of all who seek thy heart
Avows a passion more sincere.
Then haste Calista, save the swain,
Who in thy absence ever sighs;
Add fresher beauties to the plain,
And bid more pleasing prospects rise. [p. 61]
Give to the flowers a livelier hue ”

“ Each nymph enamour’d spends her sighs in vain: [p. 65]
And when in softest strains he tunes his lay,
Each shepherd, envious, throws his lute away.
In him all radiant virtues are combin’d,
True greatness centers in a humble mind ”

“ The fam’d Alcanzar’s character to stain.
For one spoil’d dish who would a meal despise!
Or for one small mistake condemn the wise?
[p. 184]
FROM
ALONZO TO DELIA.
TO you my fair, the empress of my heart,
I’m urg’d to vent my pure, untainted flame;
Tho’ language faintly can my thoughts impart,
My swelling sighs, your kind attention claim.
See Venus self outrival’d by your charms:
Vain my attempt thy virtues to portray
O come my darling hasten to my arms
Within my bosom still you bear the sway.
Life without thee no pleasure can bestow ”

“ Her friendship ev’ry virtuous mind must prize.
Then view the pair, in bonds of Hymen blest,
With little Cupid’s flutt’ring round their breast.
The bliss that’s mutual, all their thoughts employ,
Whose social hearts partake no selfish joy.
To please each other proves their constant aim,
While ev’ry act endears the tender claim. [p. 127]
Matilda too, your notice must demand ”

“ Mr. William Irvine, Glasgow Rev. Mr. Jeffery, Kilmarnock Mr. John Jeffery, Edinburgh Mr. Henry Jamieson, Gayfield-place Mr. David Jackson, Netherrow Mr. William Inglis, Milnholm Mr. James Irvine, Milnpath Mr. Alexander Irvine, Killhead Mr. Thomas Irvine, Annan K Rev. Mr. William Kilpatrick, Dumfries Miss Kincald of Kincald Miss Kennedy Mr. James King, Aurthurly Mr. Thomas Kerr, Mouswald Mr. George Kyle, Heughead Miss Kennedy, Antigua street, Edinburgh Mr. John King, teacher of vocal music L The Countess of Loudoun, 12 copies Colonel Laurie, Bath, 6 copies James Pit Laurie, Esq. ”

“ Mr. A. Blair, writer to the signet, Edinburgh Mr. David Balfour, writer to the signet, ditto Rev. Mr. Thomas Brisbane, Dunlop Mr. Hugh Breckenridge, of Daldarick Mr. William Bell, Argyle street, Glasgow, 4 copies Miss Bell, 2 copies Mr. James Bell, 2 copies Mr. William Balfour, Glasgow Mr. Blair, George’ street, Edinburgh Mrs. Balmain, Hill street, ditto Miss Balmain Mrs. Buchannan, Sydorf, Hanover street Mrs. Bell, Queen’s street Mr. James Brown, Loudoun kirk Mr. James Brown, Fenwick Mr. John Begbie, Kilmarnock Miss Bosland, Paisley Mr. William Brown, writer, Kilmarnock Mr. ”

“ William Laidlaw, mathematician, Edinburgh Mr. Stewart Lewis, Ecclefechan Mr. David Lawson, Halton Mr. Alexander Lennox Mr. David Laing, writer, Glasgow Mr. John Little, writer, Annan Mr. John Little, Langholm Miss Grace Little, do. Mr. William Little, Milsgate Mr. Robert Little, Standingstone, 8 copies Mr. Robert Little, Whisgills Mr. Robert Little, Whithaugh Mr. David Little, Branthwat Mr. John Little, Blough M Sir William Maxwell of Springkell, baronet Lady Maxwell, do. Lieut. David Maxwell, Broomholm David Monypenny, Esq. Advocate, Edinburgh John M‘Farquhar, Esq. M. S. Edinburgh. ”

“ Roger Hall, Stewarton Miss Hugan, Glasgow Mr. James Harris, ditto Mr. Charles Haushet, Candleriggs, ditto Mrs. Henderson, Camlongan Miss Henderson, ditto. Mr. Andrew Hunter Mr Robert Henderson Mr. C. Hope, advocate, St. Andrew’s square, Edinburgh Mr. Simon Hall, merchant, Ecclefechan Mr. John Henry, Surgeon, ditto Mr Thomas Hetherton, Stonebridge Mr. John Hill, Winterseugh Mr. James Henderson, Hightea Mr. Alex. Harkness, Gotterby I, J Lady G. Johnston Lady Anne Johnston Lady Jemina Johnston Lady Lucy Johnston Miss Johnston, Creichton street, Edinburgh James Johnston, Esq. ”

“ Thomas Greenshields, ditto Mr. John Greenshields Mr. A Gillian, London Mr. A. Gillies, Edinburgh Mr. James Gibson, ditto Miss Graham, Dumfries Mr Archibald Gordon Mr Robert Grierson, B. D Edinburgh, 2 copies Mr. William Grahame, Drumlanrig Castle, 2 copies Miss Charlotte Grant Mr John Graham Foxhall, Finiston, 2 copies Miss Graham, Edinburgh Mrs Gordon, Greenlaw Mr. ”

“ Robert Dickson, ditto E Countess Dowager of Errol Governor Edmonston, George’ street, Edinburgh William Erskine, Esq. advocate John Elliot, Esq. of Whitehaugh Mr. David Ewart, Chancery office, Edinburgh Mr. James Elliot, M. D. Mr. J. Elliot of Flat Mr. Elliot of Dunlie Mr. John Elliot of Park Mr William Elliot, George’ square, Edinburgh Mr. James Easton, student of Divinity, Mouswald Mr. Archibald Edmonston, Edinburgh Mr. Walter Ewen, merchant, Glasgow F Colonel William Fullarton of Fullarton, 2 copies Mrs. ”

“ Alexander Ainsley, Prince’ street, Edinburgh Mr. James Alexander, Union Bank, Paisley Mr. William Alexander, manufacturer, ditto Mr. John Andrew of Coldstream Dr. Adair, Edinburgh Miss Adair, ditto [p. 8] B Honourable Mr. Boyle, Irvine Honourable Mrs. Boyle, ditto Sir John Hunter Blair T. Boyle, Esq. of Shouilston Robert Baillie Esq. of Mayvill Miss Lesly Baillie Mrs. Baillie of Canal-bank James Boswell, Esq. of Auchinleck Richard Bousiher, Esq. Bath William Blair Esq. of Blair Mrs. Blair of ditto Mrs Bushbie, Tinwaldowns, 2 copies Miss Bushbie Thomas Beattie Esq. ”

“ James Clindinning, ditto Mr. William Cleland, Glasgow Mrs. Carruthers, Supplebank Miss J. Carruthers, Cummertrees Mr. Charles Ewart, Dalton Mr. James Corbet Mr. William Carmichael, Craigie Mr. Robert Carlyle Mr. Walter Cook Mr. John Cathcart, Moffat Mr. Charles Crawford, Killhead Mr. James Carruthers Mr. Walter Cowan, Bygate Mr. Jardine Combe, Ecclefechan [p. 11] Mr. Alexander Craig, Dumfries Mr. George Clapperton, surgeon, Annan Mr. Thomas Chalmers, Hannah D Earl of Dumfries, 2 copies Countess of Dumfries, 2 copies Countess of Dalhousie Right Honourable Lord Dair, St. ”

“ Mr. Duncan, Ardrossan Mr. James Douglas, Loudoun Mr. Dalziel, Queen street, Edinburgh Mr. James Duncan, surgeon, ditto Miss Davies, Dumfries Mr. Matthew Dickie of Knockingdale Mr. Robert Dunlop, Aurthurby Mr James Dobie, Beith Mr. John Dun, Loanhead Mr. James Dunlop of Loanhead Mr. Thomas Dunlop of Aiket [p. 12] Mr. ”

“ Archibald Laurie, ditto, 2 copies Miss B. Laurie Mrs. Lockhart of Carnwath John Lumsdair, Esq. of Blenem Rev. Mr. Lauson, Dumfries Miss C. Lindsay, Burleshall John Lowes, Esq. Ridgely-hall, Northumberland, 2 copies Mrs. Laughton, Great Russel street, Bloomsbury, London, 2 copies R. Lindsay, Esq. of Bourtreehill, 2 copies Mr. George Lewis M‘Murdo, Broadlee Mr. Francis Laing, writer, Edinburgh Mr. David Litster, do. Mr. William Lyal, Glasgow Mr. Laing, Paisley Mr. William Lockhart, Edinburgh Mr. Robert Lauchlan, Eaglesham Mr. John Lapraik, Galston [p. 17] Mr. David Loudoun, Ardry Mr. ”

“ Mr. James Hall, do. 2 copies Mr John Hall, teacher, Glasgow, 2 copies Mr John Hall, writer, do Rev. Mr. James Headrick, Glasgow Captain George Hope, R. N. Ninian Hume Esq. of Paxton Mrs. Hume of ditto Patrick Hume Esq. of Wedderburn Miss Hume, ditto Miss M. J. Hume Miss Hume, Broomhouse James Hume Esq of Newmills Miss Hume, ditto George Hume Esq. of Branxton Mr. James Hume, Edinburgh George Hardie, Esq. Annan [p. 15] Miss Hunter of Thurston Miss S. Hawthorn, Castlewig, Edinburgh Miss C. Hawthorn, ditto Mrs. Hawthorn Stewart of Phisgill Mrs. Henry, Bourdeaux, 8 copies Mr. ”

“ John Beg, Cairn [p. 9] Mr. James Bell, Ecclefechen Mr. C. Baillie, Matterstain Mr. David Blackwood, Stewarton Mr. Robert Baird, Drumkelly Mr. Richard Beattie, Lochmaben Mr. Stairs Beck, Charlesfield Mr. James Beck, Allenby Mr. John Burle, cotton manufacturer, Annan Mr. James Burnie, Kilnhead Mr. David Black, Longbridge Mr. Patrick Blackstock, Woodside Mr. John Blacklock, Cummertrees Mr. David Blair Mr. Thomas Buchannan, merchant, Glasgow Mr. James Buchannan, merchant, ditto Mr. Robert Boyd, do Mr. John Baird, LIII. Regiment Mr. James Baird, Niddrie Mrs Catharine Beattie, Ballamile Mr. ”

“ Mr. Reid, Mauchline S Sir J. Sinclair of Ulster Lady S. Sinclair Charles Sharp Esq. of Hodam Mrs. Sharp, do. Miss Sharp, do. William Stewart, Esq. of Hillside Mrs. Charles Stewart, Monteith, Closeburnhall, 2 copies James Stewart, Esq. of Stewart-hall John Shaw Stewart, Esq. of Greenock, 2 copies Mrs. Shaw Stewart, do. [p. 21] Miss Secombe Dr. ”

“ Robert Burns, Dumfries C Lady Elizabeth Creichton, 2 copies Lady Mary Cameron Sir William Cunningham of Robertland Miss J. F. Crawford, 2 copies Mr Cameron Ronald Crawford, Esq of Frisky Mrs. Cunningham junior, of Auchenskeith Peter Clark, Esq. of Holms Mrs. Clark, ditto Arthur Campbell, Esq. of Auchmunnoch Colonel J. W. Crawford of Crawfordland George Cranston Esq. advocate, Edinburgh David Cathcart, Esq advocate, ditto Miss Jane Cathcart James Campbell, Esq. ditto John Carse, Esq. of Gardrum Henrick Cape, Esq. Glasgow Miss Carr, Edinburgh Mrs. Craigie, Hay street, Edinburgh Mrs. ”

“ Andrew Pickens, Shuttleston R Doctor Rutherford, Edinburgh John Richardson, Esq. of Buss, 2 copies William Rae, Esq. advocate, Edinburgh Miss Sophia Richardson, Stank Mr. Thomas Rynd, Union Bank, Paisley James Ramsay, Esq. Mr. William Riddle, Glasgow Mr. Stephen Rowan, do. Mr. Alexander Rough, Ballamile Mr John Rankine, Boghead Mr. John Rankine, Caldwell Mr. John Robertson, do. Mr. J. Richmond, Loudoun-kirk Mr. William Roxburgh, Finwick Mr. James Renie, Trongate, Glasgow Mr. Reid of Adamton Mr. Alexander Ramsay, Glasgow Miss P. Richardson Mr. ”

“ Fergusson, ditto Miss H. Fergusson, ditto James Fergusson Esq. advocate, Edinburgh, 5 copies Robert Fergusson, Esq. Tennant, 2 copies John Fletcher, Esq. of Dowings Mr. John Fergusson, Glasgow Rev. Mr. James Foster, A. B. English Chapel, Glasgow Rev. Mr. Peter Fergusson, Inch Mr. Alexander Fowlds, Kilmarnock Mr. Foster, Pasterhead Miss Fisher, Dykemount Mr. James Fisher, Minive, 2 copies T. Ferrier, Esq. George’ street, Edinburgh Miss Ferrier, ditto Mr Archibald Fletcher, ditto Mr. Robert Flemen, ditto [p. 13] Mr. Allan Forsyth, ditto Mr. ”

“ Stewart, Argyle street, Edinburgh, 2 copies John Swanson, Esq. Glasgow John Stark, Esq. do. Mr James Steven, junior, do. Rev. Mr. Steven, Catrine Rev Mr Smith, Cummertrees Rev. Mr. Smith, Galston Mr. Robert Speed, Edinburgh Mr. John Swinton, ditto Mr. Archibald Swinton Mr. William Staig Miss Stevens, Edinburgh Mrs. Scott, Forge, Cannonby Mr David Scott, banker, Air Mr. Adam Smats, Westburn Fla Miss Stewart, Ashton, Edinburgh Mr. Charles Shaw, writer, Air Miss Somervile, Kenox Mr. E. Sheriff, Paisley Mr. Stewart, do. Mr. Slaiter, do. Mr. James Spence, Edinburgh Mr. ”

“ James Steel, Alton Mr John Smith, Dunlop Miss Sked, Hunah T Francis Tytler, advocate, Edinburgh Mr. Todd, Dean street, London [p. 22] Mrs Todd, Dean street, London Mr. James Thomson, student of divinity, Kilmarnock Mrs. Trotter of Mortonhall, 4 copies Mr. William Thomson, teacher, Carlisle Mr. J. Torrance, Catrine Mr. James Turnbull, Edinburgh Mr. George Turner, Bolton gate Mr. James Thomson, Cummertrees Mr. Robert Turner, Ardry Mrs. Trother, Glasgow W Sir John Wedderburn, Ballendean Dr. Walker, Edinburgh Mr. J. Wilson, junior, Glasgow Mr. James Wyllie, do. Mr. Williamson, Edinburgh Mr. ”