LINES
WRITTEN ON A WINDOW.
[Burns traced these words with a diamond, on the window of the King’s Arms Tavern, Dumfries, as a reply, or reproof, to one who had been witty on excisemen.]
Ye men of wit and wealth, why all this sneering
‘Gainst poor Excisemen? give the cause a hearing;
What are you, landlords’ rent-rolls? teasing ledgers:
What premiers—what? even monarchs’ mighty gaugers:
Nay, what are priests, those seeming godly wise men?
What are they, pray, but spiritual Excisemen?
LI.
LINES
WRITTEN ON A WINDOW OF THE GLOBE TAVERN,
DUMFRIES.
[The Globe Tavern was Burne’s favourite “Howff,” as he called it. It had other attractions than good liquor; there lived “Anna, with the golden locks.”]
The greybeard, old Wisdom, may boast of his treasures,
Give me with gay Folly to live;
I grant him his calm-blooded, time-settled pleasures,
But Folly has raptures to give.