(Lowland Scotch.)

TO T. W. LANG.

The ferox rins in rough Loch Awe, A weary cry frae ony toun; The Spey, that loups o'er linn and fa', They praise a' ither streams aboon; They boast their braes o' bonny Doon: Gie me to hear the ringing reel, Where shilfas sing, and cushats croon By fair Tweed-side, at Ashiesteel!

There's Ettrick, Meggat, Ail, and a', Where trout swim thick in May and June; Ye 'll see them take in showers o' snaw Some blinking, cauldrife April noon: Rax ower the palmer and march-broun, And syne we 'll show a bonny creel, In spring or simmer, late or soon, By fair Tweed-side, at Ashiesteel!

There's mony a water, great or sma', Gaes singing in his siller tune, Through glen and heugh, and hope and shaw, Beneath the sun-licht or the moon: But set us in our fishing-shoon Between the Caddon-burn and Peel, And syne we 'll cross the heather broun By fair Tweed-side at Ashiesteel!

ENVOY.

Deil take the dirty, trading loon Wad gar the water ca' his wheel, And drift his dyes and poisons doun By fair Tweed-side at Ashiesteel!

BALLADE OF THE ROYAL GAME OF GOLF.

TO LESLIE BALFOUR.

(East Fifes hire.)

There are laddies will drive ye a ba' To the burn frae the farthermost tee, But ye mauna think driving is a', Ye may heel her, and send her ajee, Ye may land in the sand or the sea; And ye 're dune, sir, ye 're no worth a preen, Tak' the word that an auld man 'll gie, Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!

The auld folk are crouse, and they craw That their putting is pawky and slee; In a bunker they 're nae gude ava', But to girn, and to gar the sand flee. And a lassie can putt--ony she,-- Be she Maggy, or Bessie, or Jean, But a cleek-shot's the billy for me, Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!

I hae play'd in the frost and the thaw, I hae play'd since the year thirty-three, I hae play'd in the rain and the snaw, And I trust I may play till I dee; And I tell ye the truth and nae lee, For I speak o' the thing I hae seen-- Tom Morris, I ken, will agree-- Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!

ENVOY.

Prince, faith you 're improving a wee, And, Lord, man, they tell me you 're keen; Tak' the best o' advice that can be, Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!