EPISTLE
TO
A
YOUNG
FRIEND
.
May
—
1786
I.
I
Lang
hae
thought
,
my
youthfu'
friend
,
A
Something
to
have
sent
you
,
Tho'
it
should
serve
nae
other
end
Than
just
a
kind
memento
;
But
how
the
subject
theme
may
gang
,
Let
time
and
chance
determine
;
Perhaps
it
may
turn
out
a
Sang
;
Perhaps
,
turn
out
a
Sermon
.
II
.
Ye'll
try
the
world
soon
my
lad
,
And
ANDREW
dear
believe
me
,
Ye'll
find
mankind
an
unco
squad
,
And
muckle
they
may
grieve
ye
:
For
care
and
trouble
set
your
thought
,
Ev'n
when
your
end's
attained
;
And
a'
your
views
may
come
to
nought
:
Where
ev'ry
nerve
is
strained
.
III
.
I'll
no
say
,
men
are
villains
a'
;
The
real
,
harden'd
wicked
,
Wha
hae
nae
check
but
human
law
,
Are
to
a
few
restricked
:
But
Och
,
mankind
are
unco
weak
,
An'
little
to
be
trusted
;
If
Self
the
wavering
balance
shake
,
It's
rarely
right
adjusted
!
IV
.
Yet
they
wha
fa'
in
Fortune's
strife
,
Their
fate
we
should
na
censure
,
For
still
th'
important
end
of
life
,
They
equally
may
answer
:
A
man
may
hae
an
honest
heart
,
Tho'
Poortith
hourly
stare
him
;
A
man
may
tak
a
neebor's
part
,
Yet
hae
nae
cash
to
spare
him
.
V.
Ay
free
,
aff
han'
,
your
story
tell
,
When
wi'
a
bosom
crony
;
But
still
keep
something
to
yoursel
Ye
scarcely
tell
to
ony
.
Conceal
yoursel
as
weel's
ye
can
Frae
critical
dissection
;
But
keek
thro'
ev'ry
other
man
,
Wi'
sharpen'd
,
sly
inspection
.
VI
.
The
sacred
lowe
o'
weel
plac'd
love
,
Luxuriantly
indulge
it
;
But
never
tempt
th'illicit
rove
,
Tho'
naething
should
divulge
it
:
I
wave
the
quantum
o'
the
sin
;
The
hazard
of
concealing
;
But
Och
!
it
hardens
a'
within
,
And
petrifies
the
feeling
!
VII
.
To
catch
Dame
Fortune's
golden
smile
,
Assiduous
wait
upon
her
;
And
gather
gear
by
ev'ry
wile
,
That's
justify'd
by
Honor
:
Not
for
to
hide
it
in
a
hedge
,
Nor
for
a
train-attendant
;
But
for
the
glorious
priviledge
Of
being
independant
.
VIII
.
The
fear
o'
Hell's
a
hangman's
whip
,
To
haud
the
wretch
in
order
;
But
where
ye
feel
your
Honor
grip
,
Let
that
ay
be
your
border
:
It's
slightest
touches
,
instant
pause
—
Debar
a'
side-pretences
;
And
resolutely
keep
it's
laws
,
Uncaring
consequences
.
IX
.
The
great
CREATOR
to
revere
,
Must
sure
become
the
Creature
;
But
still
the
preaching
cant
forbear
,
And
ev'n
the
rigid
feature
:
Yet
ne'er
with
Wits
prophane
to
range
,
Be
complaisance
extended
;
An
athiest-laugh's
a
poor
exchange
For
Deity
offended
!
X.
When
ranting
round
in
Pleasure's
ring
,
Religion
may
be
blinded
;
Or
if
she
gie
a
random-sting
,
It
may
be
little
minded
;
But
when
on
Life
we're
tempest-driven
,
A
Conscience
but
a
canker
—
A
correspondence
fix'd
wi'
Heav'n
,
Is
sure
a
noble
anchor
!
XI
.
Adieu
,
dear
,
amiable
Youth
!
Your
heart
can
ne'er
be
wanting
!
May
Prudence
,
Fortitude
and
Truth
Erect
your
brow
undaunting
!
In
ploughman
phrase
'
GOD
send
you
speed
,
'
Still
daily
to
grow
wiser
;
And
may
ye
better
reck
the
rede
,
Than
ever
did
th'
Adviser
!