Page:Beauties of Burn's poems.pdf/41

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HALLOWE'EN.^[1]

 

Yes! let the Rich deride, the Proud disdain,
The simple pleasure of the lowly train;
To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
One native charm, than all the gloss of art.
GOLDSMITH.

 

Upon that night, when Fairies light,
 On Cassilis-Downans^[2] dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
 On sprightly coursers prance;
Or from Colean the rowte is ta'en,
 Beneath the moon's pale beams:
There, up the Cove^[3], to stray and rove,
 Amang the rocks and streams,
To sport that night.

1. It is thought to be a night when Devils, Witches and other mischief making beings are all abroad on their baneful midnight errands, particularly those ærial people the Fairies are said, on that night to hold a grand anniversary.
2. Certain little, romantic, rocky green bills. in the neighbourhood of the ancient seat of the Earls of Cassilis.
3. A noted Cavern near Colean-house called the Cove of Colean; which as well as Cassilis Downans, is famed. in country story, for being a favourite haunt of Fairies.

D3