# Ancient history of three bonnets

T H E
Ancient Hiſtory
OF
THREE BONNETS.
IN FOUR CANTOS.
E D I N B U R G H:
Printed in this preſent Year 1793.
THE PERSONS.
| Duniwhistle, | Father to Joukum, |
| | Briſtle, and Bawſy. |
Joukum, in love with Roſie.
Bristle, a Man of Reſolution.
Bawsy, a weaker Brother.
Bard, a Narrator.
Beef, Porter to Roſie,
Ghaist, the Ghoſt of Duniwhiſtle,
A
T A L E
OF
THREE BONNETS.
CANTO I.
BARD.
WHEN men of mettle thought it nonſence,
To heed that cleping thing ca'd conſcience And by free-thinking had the knack, Of jeering ilka work it ſpake: And as a learned author ſpeaks, Imploy'd it like a pair of breaks, To hide their lewd and naſty ſluices, Whilk eith ſlipt down for baith theſe uſes. Then Duniwhiſtle, worn with years, And gawn the gate of his forbears, Commanded his three ſons to come, And wait upon him in his room: Bade Briſtle ſteek the door: and ſyne, He thus began——— Duniwhiſle.———Dear bairns of mine, I quickly maun ſubmit to fate, And leave you three a good eſtate,
Which has been honourably won, And handed down frae ſire to ſon, But clag or claim for ages paſt: Now that mayna prove the laſt, Here's three permiſſion Bonnets for ye, Which our Great Gutchers wore before ye, And if ye'd hae na man betray ye, Let naething ever wile them frae ye; But keep the Bonnets on your heads, And hands frae ſigning fooliſh deed, And ye ſhall never want ſuch things, Shall gar ye be made of by kings: But, if ye ever with them part Fou fair ye'll for your folly ſmart: Bare-headed then ye'll look like ſnools, And dwindle down to ſilly tools Haud up your hands now ſwear and ſay, As ye ſhall anſwer on a day— Ye'll faithfully obſerve my will, And a' its premiſſes fulfill. Briſtle. My worthy father, I ſhall ſtrive, To keep your name and fame alive, And never ſhaw a ſaul that's daſtard, To gar fouk take me for a baſtard: If e'er by me ye're diſobey'd, May witches nightly on me ride. Joukum. Whae'er ſhall dare by force or guile, This Bonnet aff my head to wile, For ſic a bauld attempt ſhall rue, And ken I was begot by you Elſe, may I like a gypſie wander, Or my daily bread turn pander.
Bawſy. May I be jyb'd by great and ſma', And kytch'd like ony tennis ba', Be the diſgrace of a' my kin. If e'er I with my bonnet twin. Bard Now ſoon as each had gi'n his aith, The auld man yielded up his breath, Was row'd in linen white as ſnaw, And to his fathers borne awa'. But ſcarcely he in moſs was rotten, Before his teſt'ment was forgotten, As ye ſhall hear frae future ſonnet, How Joukum ſinder'd wi' his Bonnet, And bought frae ſenſeleſs Billy Bawſy, His to propine a giglet laſſy, While worthy Briſtle, not ſae doner'd, Preſerves his Bonnet, and is honour'd, Thus Caractus did behave, Tho' by the fate of war a ſlave; His body only,—for his mind, No Roman power could break or bind. With Bonnet on he bauldly ſpake, His greatneſs gart his fetters crack. The victor did his friendſhip claim, And ſent him with new glories hame. But leave we Briſis and ſimile, And to our tale with ardour flee. Beyond the hills where lang the billies, Hid bred up queys and kids and fillies, And foughten many a blody battle, With theives that came to lift their cattle: There liv'd a laſs kept rary-ſhows, And fidlers ay about her houſe,
Wha at her table fed and ranted, With the ſtout ale ſhe never wanted. She was a winſome wench and waly, And could put on her claiths fu' brawly, Rumble to ilka market-town, And drink and fight like a dragoon: Juſt ſic like her wha far aff wander'd, To get herſelf weel Alexander'd. Roſie had a word of meikle ſiller, Whilk brought a hantle o' wooers till her. Amang the reſt young maſter Jouk, She conquer'd ae day wi' a look: Frae that time forth he ne'er could ſtay, At hame to mind his corn or hay, But grew a beau, and did adron Himſelf with fifty bows of corn, Forby what he took on, to rigg Him out with linen, ſhoon and wig, Snuff-boxes, ſword-knots, canes and waſhes, And ſweeties to beſtow on laſſes, Cou'd neweſt aiths genteely ſwear, And had a courſe of flaws perquire: He drank and danc'd, and ſigh'd to move, Fair Roſie to accept his love After dumb ſigns he thus began, And ſpake his mind to'er like a man. Joukum. O take me Roſie to your arms, And let me revel o'er your charms; If ye ſay na, I needna care, For apes or tethers made of hair, Pen knives or pools I minna need, That minute ye ſay na, I'm dead,
O let me lie within your breaſt: Add at your dainty tazle feaſt: Well do I like your goud to finger, And ſit to her your ſt—ſs Singer. While on thus ſun ſide o' the brae, Belongs to you, my limbs I'll lay Roſie. I own, ſweet Sir, ye woo me frankly, But a' your courtſhip ſars ſae rankly, Of selfiſh intereſt, that I'm flead, My perſon leaſt employs your head. Joukum What a diſtinction's this your making When your poor lover's heart is breaking; With little logic I can thew, That every thing you have is you: Beſides the beauties of your perſon, Theſe beds of flowers you ſet your a--e on, Your claiths, your lands, and lying pelf, Are every ane your very self, And add freſh luſture to theſe graces, With which adorn'd your ſaul and face is. Roſie. Ye ſeem to have a loving flame For me, and hate your native hame; That gars me ergh to truſt you meikle, For fear you ſhou'd prove falſe and fickle. Joukum. I troth my rugged billy Briſtle, About his gentrie makes ſic fiſtle, That if a body contradict him He's ready with a durk to ſtick him; That wearies me of hame I vow, And fain would live and die with you. Bard Observing Jouk a wee tate tipſy, Smirking reply'd the pauky gipſy.
Roſie. I wad be very wae to ſee, My lover tak the pet and die; Wherefore I am inclin'd to eaſe ye, And do what in me lies to pleaſe ye: But firſt ere we conclude the paction, You muſt perform ſome gallant action, To prove the truth of what you've ſaid, Elſe, for you, ſhall die a maid Joukum. My deareſt jewel gie't a name, That I may win both you and fame: Shall I gae fight with foreſt bulls, Or cleave down troops with thicker ſkulls. Or ſhall I douk the deepeſt ſea. And coral pou for beads to thee? Penty the Pope upon the noſe, Or p--- upon a hundred beaus? Roſie. In troth, dear lad, I wad be laith, To riſk your life, or do you ſkaith, Only employ your canny skill, To gain and rive your father's will, With the conſent of Briſs and Bawſy, And I ſhall in my boſom hawſe ye, Soon as the fatal Bonnets three, Are ta'en frae them and gien to me. Joukum. Which to preſerve I gied my aith But now the cauſe is life and death, I muſt, or with the Bonnet part, Or twin with yon and break my heart: Sae, tho' the aith we took waa awfu', To keep it now appears unlawfu, Then, love, I'll anſwer thy demands, And fly to fetch them to your hands.
Bard. The famous jilt of Paleſtine Thus drew the hooks o'er Samſon's een, And gart him tell where lay his ſtrength, Of which ſhe twin'd him at the length, Then gied him up in chains to rave, And labour like a galey ſlave: But Roſie, mind, when growing hair, His loſs of pith 'gan to repair, He made of thouſands an example, By cruſhing them beneath their temple.
CANTO II.
Bard.
THe ſupper ſowin cogs and bannocks Stood cooling on the ſole o' winnocks And, cracking at the weſtlin gavels, The wives ſat beeking of their navels, When Jouk his brither Briſtle found, Fetching his ev'ning wauk around A ſcore of ploughmen of his ain, Who blythly whiſtled on the plain. Jouk three times congee'd, Briſtle anes, Then ſhook hand, and thus begins. Briſtle. Wow, brither Jouk, where hae ye been? I ſcarce can trow my looking een, Ye're grown ſae braw: now weird's defend me Gin that I had nae maiſt miſkend ye, And where gat ye that braw blue ſtringing, That's at your houghs and ſhon'ders hinging?
Ye look as ſpruſh as one that's wooing, I ferly, lad, what ye've been doing. Joukum. My very much reſpect brither, Should we hide ought frae ane anither, And not, when warm'd with the ſame blood Conſult ilk ane anither's good; And be it kend ty'e, my deſign, Will profit prove to me and mine. Briſtle. And brother, troth it much commends Your virtue, thus to love your friends, I makes me blyth, for aft I ſaid, Ye were a clever mettl'd lad. Joukum And ſae I hope will ever prove If ye befriend me in my love: For Roſie, bonny, rich and gay, And ſweet as flowers in June or May, Her gear I'll get, her ſweets I'll rifle, If ye'll but yield me up a trifle, Promiſe to do't, and ye'ſe be free, With ony thing pertains to me. Briſle. I lang to anſwer your demand, And never ſhall for trifles ſtand. Joukum. Then ſhe deſires as a propine, Theſe Bonnets, Bawſy's, yours and mine; And well I wat that's nae great matter, If I ſae eaſily can get her, Briſtle Ha, ha! ye Judas, are ye there? Tae D -- then nor ſhe neer get mair. Is that the trifle that ye ſpoke of? Wha think ye, ſir, ye mak a mock of? Ye ſilly manſworn ſcant of grace; Swith let me never ſee your face.
Seek my auld Bonnet aff my head! Faith that's a bonny ane indeed! Require a thing I'll part with never; She's get as ſoon a lap o' my liver, Vile whore and jade, the woody hang her. Bard. Thus ſaid, he ſaid, nae mair for anger, But curs'd and ban'd, and was nae far, Frae trading Jouk amang the glar. While Jouk with language glib as oolie, Right pawkily kept aff a toolie, Well maſked with a wedder's ſkin, Although he wis a tod within. He hum'd and ha'd, and with a cant, Held forth, as he had been a ſaint, And quoted texts to prove we'd better, Part with a ſma' for a greater. Joukum. Ah! brither, may the furies rack me If I mean'd ill, but ye miſtak me; But gin your Bonnet's ſic a jewel, Pray gie't or keep it, fir, as you will, Since your auld faſhion'd fancy rather, Inclines till't than a hat and feather; But I'll go try my brither Bawſy, Poor man, he's nae ſae daft and faucy. With empty pride to crook his mou, And hinder his ain good like you; If he and I agree, ne'er doubt ye, We'll make the bargain up without ye; Syne your braw Bonnet and your noddle Will hardly baith be worth a bodle. Bard. At this bauld Briſtle's colour chang'd, He ſwore on Roſe to be reveng'd,
For he began now to be flied, She'd wile the honours frae his head, Syne with a ſtern and canker'd look, He thus reprov'd his brother Jouk. Briſtle. Thou vile diſgrace of our forbears, Wha lang with valiant dint of weirs, Maintain'd their right 'gainſt a' intruſions Of our auld faes the Roſycrucians, Doſt thou deſign a laſt to catch Us in a girn with this baſe match, And for the hauding up thy pride, Upon thy brither's riggins ride: I'll ſee you hang'd, and her the gither, As high as Haman in a tether, Ere I with my ain Bonnet quat, For any barrow'd beaver hat, Whilk I, as Roſie takes the fikees, Maun wear or no juſt as ſhe likes: Then let me hear nae mair about her, For if ye dare again to mutter, Sic vile propoſal in my hearing, Ye need nae truſt to my forbearing; For ſoon my beard will tak a low. And I ſhall crack your crazy pow. Bard. This ſaid, brave Bristle ſaid nae mair, But cock'd his Bonnet with an air, Wheel'd round with gloomy brows & muddy, And left his brither in a ſtuddy.
CANTO III.
Bard.
NOw Sol wi' his lang whip gae cracks Upon his neighering cooſers backs, To gar them tak th' Olympian Brae, Wi' a cart lade of bleezing day; The country hind ceaſes to ſnore, Bangs fred his bed, unlocks the door, His bladder tooms, and gies a rift, Then tentily ſurveys the lift, And, weary of his wife and flaes, To their imbrace prefers his elaes. Scarce had the lark forſook her neſt, When Jouk, wha had got little reſt, For thinking on his plot and laſſie, Got up to gang and deal wi' Bawſie: Away faſt o'er the bent he gade, And fand him dozing on bis bed, His blankets creiſhy, foul his ſark, His curtains trim'd with ſpider's wark; Soot draps hang frae his roof and kipples, His floor was o' tobacco ſpittles: Set on the antlers of a deer, Hang mony an auld claymore and ſpear, With coat of iron and target truſty, Inch thick of dirt and unco ruſty: Enough appear'd to ſhow his Billy, That he was lazy, poor and ſilly, And wadna mak ſo great buſtle, About his Bonnet as did Briſtle.
Jouk three times rugged at his ſhoulder, At langrun, Bawſy rak'd his een, And cries, What's that? What do you mean? Then looking up he ſees his brither, Bawſy. Good-morrow Jouk, what brings you hither? Your'e early up, as I'm a ſinner I ſeenly riſe before my dinner: Well, what's ye'r news, and how gaes a' Ye've been an ucno time awa'. Joukum. Bawfy, I m blyth to ſee you weel, For me, thank God, I keep me heal: Get up, get up, ye lazy mart, I have a ſecret to impart, Of which, when I give you an inkling, It will ſet bait your lugs a tinkling. Bard Straight Bawſy riſes, quickly dresses, While haſte his youky mind impreſſes: Now rigg'd. and morning drink brought in, Thus did ſlee-gabbet Jouk begin. Joukum My worthy brither, well I wate O er feckleſs is your wee eſtate, For ſic a meikle ſaul as yours, That to things greater higher towers; But ye ly loitering here at hame, Neglectfu' baith of wealth and aame, Tho', as I ſaid, ye have a mind, That is for higher things deſign'd. Bawſy. That very true, thanks to the ſkies But how to get them there it lies. Joukum. I'll tell ye Baws,—I've laid a plot That only want your caſting vote,
And if ye'll gie't your bread is baken; But firſt accept of this love-taken; Here tak this gowd and never want, Enough to gar you drink and rant; And this is but an arle penny, To what I afterward deſign ye; And in return I'm ſure that I, Shall naithing ſeek that ye'll deny. Bawſy. And troth now Jouk, and neither will I Or after never ca' me Billy; If I refuſe, wae light upon me, This gowd, O vow! 'tis wonder bonny. Joukum. Ay, that it is—'tis e'n the a' That gars the plough of living draw. 'Tis Gowd gars ſogers feight the fiercer, Without it preaching wad be ſcarcer; 'Tis gowd that makes the great men witty, And puggy laſſes fair and pretty; Without it ladies nice wad dwindle, Down to a wife that ſnoves a ſpindle. But to the point, and wave Digreſſion, I make a free and plain confeſſion, That I'm in love, and as I ſaid, Demand from you a little aid, To gain a bride that eithly can, Make me fou bleſt and you a man: Give me your Bonnet to preſent My miſtreſs with, and your conſent, To rive the Daft and faſhion'd deed, That bids ye wear it on you head. Bawſy. O goſh! O goſh! then Jouk have at her, If that be a' 'tis nae great matter.
Joukum. Theſe granted ſhe demands naemair To let us in her riches ſhair; Nor ſhall our herds as heretofore, Rin aff with ane anither's ſtore, Nor ding out ane anither's harns, When they forgather 'mang the kairns; But freely may drive up and down, And ſell in ilka market down, Belongs to her,—which ſoon you ll ſee, If ye'll be wiſe, belang to me: And when that happy day ſhall come, My honeſt Bawſy, there's my thumb, That while I breathe I ll ne er beguile ye, Ye'ſe baith get gowd, and be a Bailey. Bawſy. Faith Jouk, I ſee but little ſkaith In breakin of a ſenſeleſs aith, That is impos'd by doited dads, (To pleaſe their whims) on thoughtleſs lads My Bonnet! welcome to my Bonnet! And meikle good may ye mak on it, Our Father's Will I'ſe make nae din, Tho' Roſie ſhould apply't behin; But ſay, does Billy Briſtle ken, This your deſign to mak us men? Joukum. Ay, that he does, but the ſtiff aſs! Bears a heart-hatred to the laſs, And rattles out a hantle ſtories, O blood and dirt and ancient glories, Meaning foul feuds that us'd to be, Between ours and her family; Bans like a blockhead that he'll ne'er, Twin with his Bonnet for a her Gear;
But you and I conjoin'd can ding him, And, by a vote, to reaſon bring him; (illegible text) he ſtand cloſe, 'tis unco eith, To rive the teſt ment ſpite o's teeth, And gar him ply, for a' his clavers, To lift his Bonnet to our Beavers. Bawſy Then let the doof delight in drudging What caufe have we to ten his grudging; Tho Roſy's fed on the fell, If you and I be well ourſells Bard Thus Jouk and Bawſy were agreed, And Briſs man yield, it was decreed. Thus far I've ſung in Highland ſtrains, Of Jouk's armour and pawky pains, To gain his end with ilka brither, Sae oppoſite to ane anither; Of Briſtle's hardy reſolution, And hatred to the Roſycrucians; Of Bawſy, put in ſlavery neck-faſt. Selling his Bonnet for a breakfast, What follows on't, of gain or ſkaith, I'll tell when we hae ta'en our breath.
CANTO IV.
Bard NOW ſoon as e'er the Will was torn, Jouk with twa Bonnets on the morn, Frae Fairyland faſt bang'd away, The prize at Roſy's feet to lay; Wha ſleely when he did appear, About his ſucceſs 'gan to ſpear. Joukum. Here bonny laſs, your humble ſlave Presents you with the things you crave,
The riven Will and Bonnets twa, Which makes the third worth nought ava Our power gi'en up, now I demand, Your promis'd love, and eke your hand. Bard. Roſie ſmil'd to ſee the lad outwitted And Bonnet's to the flames committed, Immediately an awfu ſound, As ane wad thought, riſe frae the ground And ſyne appear'd a ſtalwart Ghaiſt, Whaſe ſtern and angry looks amaiſt Unhool'd their ſauls.—ſhaking they ſaw, Him frae the fire the Bonnets draw; Then came to Jouk, and with twa drugs, Encreas'd the length of baith his lugs, And ſaid— Ghaist.—Be a' thy days an aſs, And kackney to this cunning laſs: But for theſe Bonnets I'll preſerve them, For bairns unborn that will deſerve them. Bard. With that he vaniſh'd frae their een And left poor Jouk wi' breeks not clean. He ſhakes, while Roſie rants and capers, And ca's the viſion nought but vapours: Rubs o'er his cheeks and gab wi' ream, Till he believes't to be a dream: Syne to the cloſet leads the way, To ſoup him up with uſquebae. Roſie. Now, bonny lad, ye may be free, To handle ought pertains to me; And ere the ſun, though he be dry, Has driven down the weſtlin ſky, To drink his wamefu' of the ſea,
There's be but ane of you and me. In marriage ye ſhall hae my hand; But I maun hae the ſole command, In Fairyland to ſaw and plant, And to ſend there for ought I want. Bard. Ay, ay, cries Jouk, all in a fire, And ſtiff'ning into ſtrong deſire Joukum. Come haſte thee, let us ſign and ſeal And let my billies gae to the diel. Bard Here it wad make o'er lang a tale, To tell how meikle cakes and ale, And beef and broe, and gryce and geeſe, And pies a' running o'er wi creeſh, Was ſerv'd upon the wedding-table, To mak the lads and laſſes able, To do, ye ken, what we think ſhame, (Tho' ilka ane does't) to gie't a name. But true it is, they ſoon were buckl'd, And ſoon ſhe made poor Jouk a cuckold, And play'd her bawdy ſports before him With cheils that car'd not tippence for him, Beſides a Roſycrucian trick, She had a dealing with Auld Nick; And, whene'er Jouk began to grumble, Auld Nick in the neiſt room wad rumble. She drank, and fought, and ſpent her gear, With dice, and ſelling o' the mare. Thus living like a Pelzi's get, She ran her ell ſae deep in debt, By borrowing money at a' hands, That yearly income of her lands, Scarce paid the int'reſt of her bands.
Jouk, ay ca'd wife behind the hand, The daffing of his doings fand; O'er late he now began to ſee, The ruin of his family: But paſt relief laird in a midden. He's now oblig'd to do her bidden. Away with ſtrict command he's ſent, To Fairyland to lift the rent. And with him many a Caterpillar, To rug frae Briſs and Bawſy ſiller; For her braid table mann be ſerv'd. Tho Fairy-fowk ſhoud a' be ſtarv'd. Jouk, thus ſurrounded with his guards, Now plunders hay ſtacks, barns, and yards They drive the nowt frae Briſtle's fauld, While he can nought but ban and ſcald. Briſtle Vile ſlave to a huſſey ill begotten By many dads, with claps haf rotten, Wert na for honour of my mither, I ſhou'd na think ye were my brither. Jouk Dear brither, why this rude reflection? Learn to be greatfu' for protection; The Petereueans, bloody beaſts, That gar fouk lik the dowps of prieſts, Elſe on a brander, like a haddock, Be broolied, ſprowing like a paddock, Theſe monſters, lang or now had come With faggots, taz, and tuck o' drum, And twin'd you of your wealth and lives Syne, without ſpeerin, ------ your wives, Had not the Roſycrucian ſtood, The bulwark of your rights and blood;
And yet forſooth ye girn and grumble, And with a gab unthanfu' mumble But many a black nnworthy curſe, When Roſie bids ye draw your purſe; When ſhe's ſae gen'rouſly content, With not aboon thirty per cert. Briſtle Damn you and her tho' now I m blae I'm hopefu yet to ſee the day, I'll gar ye baith repent that e'er, Ye reav'd by force away my gear, Without, or thanks, or making price, Or ever ſpeering my advice. Joukum. Peace gouk, we naething do at a', But by the letter of the law: Then nae mair with your din' torment us, Gowling like ane non compos mentis, Elſe Roſie iſſue may a writ, To tye ye up baith hand and fit, And dungeon ye but meat or drink Til ye be ſtarv'd, and die in ſtink Bard Thus Jouk and Briſtle when they met With ſic braw language ither treat. Juſt fury glows in Briſtle's veins; And tho' his Bonnet he retains, Yet on his creſt he may not cock it, But in a coffer cloſe maun lock it. Bare headed, thus he e'en knocks under, And lets them drive away the plunder, Sae have I ſeen, beſide a tower The king of brues oblig'd to cour; And, on his royal paunches thole, A dwarf to prob him with a pole!
While he wad ſhaw his fangs and rage, With bootleſs brangling in his cage. Now follows that we take a peep, Of Bawſy looking like a ſheep, By Briſtle hated and diſpis'd, By Jouk and Roſie as little pris'd. Soon as the horſe had heard his brither Joukum and Roſe were prick'd the gither Away they ſcour o'er hight and how, For fidging fain what'eer he dow, Counting what things he now did miſter That wad be gi'en him by his ſiſter, Like ſhallow bards wha think they fiee, Becauſe they live ſax ſtories high, To ſome poor lifeleſs lucubration, Perfixes fleeching dedication, And blythly dream they'll be reſtor'd. To ale-houſe credit by my lord. Thus Bawſy's mind in plenty row'd, While he thought on his promis'd gowd, And baileyſhip, which he with fines, Wad mak like the Weſt-India mines, Arrives, with future greatneſs dizzy, Ca's. Where's Meſt Jouk? Beef. --Meſt Jouk is biſy. Bawſy. My Lady Roſie, is ſhe at leiſure Beef. No, Sir, my Lady's at her pleaſure Bawſy. I wait for her, or him, go ſhew Beef. And pray ye, Maſter, wha are you Bawſy. Upo' my ſaul this porter's ſawſy Sirrah, go tell my name is Bawſy,
Their brither who made up the marriage Beef and ſo I thought it by your carriage. Between your houghs gae clap your gelding, Swith hame and feaſt upon a ſpelding, For there's nae rom beneath this roof, To entertain a ſimple coof, The like of you, that nain can truſt, Wha to your aih have been unjuſt. Bard. This ſaid, he dadded to the yate, And left poor Bawſy in a fret, Wha loud growl'd, and made a din, That was o'erheard by a' within. Quoth Roſe to Jouk, Come let's away, And ſee what's yon makes a' this fray, Away they went, and ſaw the creature, Sair runkling ilka ſilly feature, Of his dull phiz with guns and glooms, Stamping and biting at his thumbs. They tented him a little while, Then came full on him with a ſmile, Which ſoon gart him forget the torture, Was rai'ſd within him by the porter. Sae will a ſucking weanie yell, But ſhake a rattle or a bell, It hauds its tongue --- Let that alane, It to its yamering fa's again: Lilt up a ſang, and ſtraight its ſeen, To laugh with tears into its een. Thus eithly anger'd, eithly pleas'd, Weak Bawſy lang they tantaliez'd, With promiſes right wide extended, The ne'er perform'd ,nor ne'er intended:
But now and then when they did need him A ſupper and a pint they gied him, That done, they hae nae mair to ſay, And ſcarcely ken him the neiſt day. Poor fallow, now this mony a year, With ſome faint hope, and routh of fear, He had been wreſtling with his fate, A drudge to Joukum and his mate; While Briſtle ſaves his manly look, Regardleſs baith of Roſe and Jouk; Maintains right queitly 'yond the cairns, His honour, conſcience, wife and bairns, Jouk and his rumelgary wife, Drive on a drunken gaming life, 'Cauſe ſober they can get no reſt, For Nick and Duniwhiſtle's ghaiſt, Wha in the garrets often tooly, And ſhore them with a bloody gully. Thus have I ſung in hamlet rhyme, A ſang that ſcorns the teeth of time, Yet modeſtly I hide my name, Admiring virtue mair than fame. But tent ye wha deſpiſe inſtruction, And give my wark a wrong conſtruction, Frae 'hind my curtain, mind I tell ye, I'll ſhoot a ſatire thro' your belly; But wha with havins jees his Bonnet, And ſays, thanks ty'e for your Sonnet, Ye ſhanna want the praiſes due, To generoſity. Adieu.
F Ι Ν Ι S.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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