’Twas in that season, when a simple Bard, Unknown and poor—simplicity’s reward!— Ae night, within the ancient brugh of Ayr, By whim inspir’d, or haply prest wi’ care, He left his bed, and took his wayward route, And down by Simpson’s^1 wheel’d the left about: (Whether impell’d by all-directing Fate, To witness what I after shall narrate; Or whether, rapt in meditation high, He wander’d out, he knew not where or why:) The drowsy Dungeon-clock^2 had number’d two, and Wallace Tower^2 had sworn the fact was true: The tide-swoln firth, with sullen-sounding roar, Through the still night dash’d hoarse along the shore. All else was hush’d as Nature’s closed e’e; The silent moon shone high o’er tower and tree; The chilly frost, beneath the silver beam, Crept, gently-crusting, o’er the glittering stream— When, lo! on either hand the list’ning Bard, The clanging sugh of whistling wings is heard; Two dusky forms dart through the midnight air; Swift as the gos^3 drives on the wheeling hare; Ane on th’ Auld Brig his airy shape uprears, The other flutters o’er the rising piers: Our warlock Rhymer instantly dexcried The Sprites that owre the Brigs of Ayr preside. (That Bards are second-sighted is nae joke, And ken the lingo of the sp’ritual folk; Fays, Spunkies, Kelpies, a’, they can explain them, And even the very deils they brawly ken them). Auld Brig appear’d of ancient Pictish race, The very wrinkles Gothic in his face; He seem’d as he wi’ Time had warstl’d lang, Yet, teughly doure, he bade an unco bang. [Footnote 1: A noted tavern at the Auld Brig end.—R. B.] [Footnote 2: The two steeples.—R. B.] [Footnote 3: The Gos-hawk, or Falcon.—R. B.] New Brig was buskit in a braw new coat, That he, at Lon’on, frae ane Adams got; In ’s hand five taper staves as smooth ’s a bead, Wi’ virls and whirlygigums at the head. The Goth was stalking round with anxious search, Spying the time-worn flaws in every arch; It chanc’d his new-come neibor took his e’e, And e’en a vexed and angry heart had he! Wi’ thieveless sneer to see his modish mien, He, down the water, gies him this guid-e’en:— Auld Brig “I doubt na, frien’, ye’ll think ye’re nae sheepshank, Ance ye were streekit owre frae bank to bank! But gin ye be a brig as auld as me— Tho’ faith, that date, I doubt, ye’ll never see— There’ll be, if that day come, I’ll wad a boddle, Some fewer whigmaleeries in your noddle.” New Brig