“Omnes eodem cogimur.” – CAR. II., 3.
DEAR JOCK, ye’re higher up the brae
Than me, your aulder brither –
Keep mind the higher up ye gae
The mair ye’re in the weather.
I’m no’ misdootin’ that ye’re wice,
An’, for your ploo-share, speed it!
But I may better gi’e advice,
An’ ye may better need it.
–
The higher up the brae ye speel
The farrer it’s below ye, –
Tak’ tent ye dinna gi’e the deil
Occasion to dounthrow ye.
Be douce an’ ceevil wi’ success,
For Fortune’s no’ to trust aye;
Then if your head should tak’ the gress
Ye’re whaur ye were at first aye.
–
An honest fa’, wi’ conscience clear,
It never brak’ a bane yet;
There’s aye the honest course to steer
For a’ that’s come an’ gane yet.
But letna lucre be your aim,
Pursued thro’ thick an’ thin aye;
The honour o’ an honest name,
That’s what you first should win aye.
–
For happiness (to God be thanks!)
Is no’ the gift o’ Fortun’;
Wi’ place the limmer plays her pranks,
Wi’ men like puppets sportin’ –
Rich folk lookin’ idly on
At puir folk busy dargin’ –
But happiness, my brither John,
It wasna in the bargain.
–
The ups an’ douns o’ human life
Are like a fairy revel;
But a’ the warld, an’ his wife,
Maun lie at ae great level.
An’ that’s a thocht for me an’ you
When Fate’s awards perplex us;
In calm eternity’s wide view
There’s little that should vex us.
–
Fate’s like the waves aneth the mune,
An’ we are vessels ridin’;
It’s doon an’ up, an’ up an’ doon,
An’ here there’s nae abidin’;
But on the far horizon’s edge,
To which we’re ever driftin’,
The changes on oor pilgrimage
Are but a paltry shiftin’.