Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-12-22
WALTER sooTv's GREETING TO
ROBERT BURNS.
CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK, 1850
nv WALLACE BRUcR,

Ing Poem at the 1t, Andrews Dinner,
Delmonieos, New York city, on the eve
OF November s0tl, preheing u with the
following paragraph i-"After the un'
yelling Of burns Statue few weeks ago
IN Central Park amer the eloquent ora
ton Of Geo, william Curtis had stirred
tue hearts OF thousands who love the
lines Ofthe Pleasant Poet after the crowd
had disappeared and night had settled
down upon the three statues or hhak'
speare, Scott aud Burns, II seemed to me
eminently ilting that Walter Scott should
extend o greeting 10 the newly arrived
poet and Introduce him to his broazed
friend aud comrade william Shakespeare"
We greet thee, Robbie, here tonight
beneath these stars 30 pure and bright
We greet thee, Poet, come at last
With WIN and me thy lot 10 east
We've talked about thee many q day
Aud wondered when you'd be this way
Reach out your hand aud gle's q shake,
Just once, for aud acquaintance sake
We welcome you from scotia's land
Aud reach to you brther's hand
A XII ,dred soul to greet you turns
WIN Shakespeare. this Ia Robe Burns
We've sung your songs here mony night
TN that dear star IL lost 10 light,
And, Willie says, the lines you wrote
WIN even do for him to quote.
lie likes your verses wondfous weel
Aud says you are q glorious chlel-
IN fact, the only one who knows
The space 'twlxt poetry and prose
Oh, Robbie, II we had plaid
We'd quite convert you stratford lad
iIe said, In truth, but ycster-morn,
"Im Scotch In wit, though English born
"And, Walter, II may yet appear
That Scotland takes In Warwickshire--
Lot Avon DO the border llnc,
Blot out the Tweed or draw II ilnc.'
SO Willie brew your peck o. maui
And set the board with attic saw't
For Rob has come at last you sec
We were n pair, but now we're three
We need no other comradc now
No modern bard o. classic brow:
IT'S long before another man
WIN be admitted to our clan.
In stormy nights twas lonesome here
When WIN recited half o. Lear;
But now he quotes O'Shantcr's Tale
In thunder, lightning, and In hall.
And says his witches can't compare
With those that chased O'Shantcr's mare |;
He's even learned your Dell Address
TO quote some night for good Queen Bess,
For ROBBIE this is haunted ground
Where Spirits keep their nightly round;
And when the witching hour Is near
You'll see strange beings gather here.
/ saw Queen Bess the other night
Beside him. clad In vesture bright,
While kings and queens, a noble throns,
In dim procc ssion passed along,
And walls seemed rising from the earth
Like Leiccsters tower ut kenilworth
And all the pageant that was there,
Seemed floating inthe moonlit air.
Aye! Beauty, Jealousy and Pride,
In Dudley's Halls walked side by side
While Amy Robsart seemed to stand
With fair Ophelia, hand to hand.
And, Robe! What vision came
As Willie whispered Ariel's name
The tower dissolved and round him drew
The stately, gentle, fair and true
Miranda, Juliet, Imogene,
Hermlone and Katharine.
While Rosalind among them stood
The sunlight of sweet Arden's wood.
'Twere long to pass them in review,
For still the circle wider grew
Until the airy vision bright
Was lost at last in liquid light.
So let me whisper in your ear
Never to tell what passes here;
There'll be grand reception soon
To greet the lad from Bonnie Doom.
Wen gather up the jolliest crew,
! Falstaff, Prince Hal and Roderlck Dhu'
{ And a. the rantin' brither Scots
.. Frae Maiden Kirk to John OGroats.
So ROBBIE, make yourself at home
'Mang friends and brithers you have come
And here's land that's quite as fair
. As that betwe the Doom and Ayr;
A land that glories in its youth,