nature's law—a poem
humbly inscribed to gavin hamilton, esq.
great nature spoke: observant man obey'd—pope.
let other heroes boast their scars,
the marks of sturt and strife:
and other poets sing of wars,
the plagues of human life:
shame fa' the fun, wi' sword and gun
to slap mankind like lumber!
i sing his name, and nobler fame,
wha multiplies our number.
great nature spoke, with air benign,
“go on, ye human race;
this lower world i you resign;
be fruitful and increase.
the liquid fire of strong desire
i've pour'd it in each bosom;
here, on this had, does mankind stand,
and there is beauty's blossom.”
the hero of these artless strains,
a lowly bard was he,
who sung his rhymes in coila's plains,
with meikle mirth an'glee;
kind nature's care had given his share
large, of the flaming current;
and, all devout, he never sought