Page:Life and character, of the late Reverend and learned Mr Thomas Boston.pdf/12

 Brought many pleasant things:

Ovid or Virgil could not strike

Their bow upon such strings:

For they the sacred fields did want

Where lies the noble treasure;

And great's the pity we in them

should take so little pleasure.

True, Erskin did a verse compose,

as well did him become:

Since he no further did proceed,

gives me the greater room.

And since no more judicious pen

did ever yet appear,

I'll tune my harp as well's I can,

who ever's pleas'd to hear.

In Dunse he drew his native breath,

and there was at the school,

And as 'tis said, like many boys,

he did not play the fool.

When others rambled in the street,

then Thomas went to pray

Like one who's early taught by Christ

the new and living way.

So said a woman born in Dunse,

full thirty years ago;

Nor do I doubt the truth of it,

But it was really so.

When he at first began to preach,

he seem'd his Father's will to teach

For grace, learning and eloquence,