When Tam saw a priest he grew wild as a stirk, And never wad enter the door o’ a kirk: If ony are near him attempted to pray, In a moment Tam Giffen wad vanish away; If ony by chance ever mentioned his name, Soon, soon to their terror and wonder he came, An’ speired what they wanted by calling him there, When he had got business to do in the air. Ae nicht when a revel o’ goblins had been, Far doun in the glen on the mune-lichted green, Tam shared in their glee, and next morning telt a’ The wonderful things that he heard and he saw; Then the fairies an’ goblins an’ witches did meet By Garrit’s deep linn—a wild, lonely, retreat— An’ wailings were heard on the dread midnicht air, An’ Tam Giffen, next morning, was found lifeless there. ---------------------------- GOOD COUNSEL. [The following “Good Counsel” by Chaucer, freely modernised, is said to have been composed in his last agonies. In a MS. in the Cotton Library the verses are entitled, “a Ballade made by Giffrey Chaucyer upon his dethe bedde, lying in grete anguysse.”] Fly from the crowd, and be to virtue true, Content with what thou hast, though it be small; To hoard brings hate; nor lofty things pursue; He who climbs high endangers many a fall. Envy’s a shade that ever waits on fame, And oft the sun that raises it will hide: Trace not in life a vast expensive scheme, But be thy wishes to thy state ally’d. Be mild to others, to thyself severe, So truth shall shield thee or from hurt or fear. Think not of binding all things to thy will, Nor vainly hope that fortune shall befriend; Inconstant she, but be thou constant still, Whate’er betide, into an honest end. Yet needless dangers never madly brave; Kick not thy naked foot against a nail; Or from experience the solution crave, If wall and pitcher strive which shall prevail. Be in thy cause, as in thy neighbour’s, clear, So truth shall shield thee or from hurt or fear. Whatever happens, happy in thy mind Be thou, nor at thy lot in life repine; He ’scapes all ill whoso bosom is resign’d; Nor way, nor weather will be always fine: Besides, thy home’s not here—a journey this, A pilgrim thou—then hie thee on thy way; Look up to God—intent on heavenly bliss, Take what the road affords and praises pay: Shun brutal lusts, and seek thy soul’s high sphere, So truth shall shield thee or from hurt or fear. ----------------------------