XV. On William Smellie

XIV. The Highland Welcome.

[Burns took farewell of the hospitalities of the Scottish Highlands in these happy lines.]

When Death’s dark stream I ferry o’er,
A time that surely shall come;
In Heaven itself I’ll ask no more
Than just a Highland welcome.

[Smellie, author of the Philosophy of History; a singular person, of ready wit, and negligent in nothing save his dress.]

Shrewd Willie Smellie to Crochallan came,
The old cock’d hat, the gray surtout, the same;
His bristling beard just rising in its might,
’Twas four long nights and days to shaving night:

His uncomb’d grizzly locks wild staring, thatch’d
A head for thought profound and clear, unmatch’d:
Yet tho’ his caustic wit was biting, rude,
His heart was warm, benevolent, and good.