An' some, to learn them for their tricks, d This game was play'd in monie lands, The lairds forbade, by strict commands, But new light herds gat sic a cowe, Folk thought them ruin'd stick-an-stowe, Till now amaist on ev'ry knowe, Ye'll find ane plac'd; An' some, their new-light fair avow, Just quite barefac'd. Nae doubt the auld-light flocks are bleatin; Their zealous herds are vex'd and sweatin ; as Mysel, I've even seen them greetin Wi' girnin spite, To hear the moon sae sadly lie'd on But shortly they will cowe the louns! An' stay a month amang the moons Guid observation they will gie them; An' when the auld moon's gaun to lea'e them The hindmost shaird, they'll fetch it wi' them, An' when the new-light billies see them, I think they'll crouch! Sae, ye observe that a' this clatter I hope, we bardies ken some better Than mind sic brulzie. EPISTLE TO J. R***** ENCLOSING SOME POEMS. O ROUGH, rude, ready-witted R******, Your dreams* an' tricks Will send you, Korah-like, a-sinkin, Straught to auld Nick's. Ye hae sae monie cracks an' cants, An' fill them fou; * A certain humourous dream of his was then making a noise in the country-side. And then their failings, flaws, an' wants, Hypocrisy, in mercy spare it! That holy robe, O dinna tear it! But your curst wit, when it comes near it, Think, wicked sinner, wha ye're skaithing, It's just the blue-gown badge an' claithing O' saunts; tak that, ye lea'e them naething To ken them by, Frae ony unregenerate heathen Like you or I. I've sent you here some rhyming ware, Yon sang,* ye'll sen't wi' cannie care, Tho' faith, sma' heart hae I to sing! My muse dow scarcely spread her wing! I've play'd mysel a bonnie spring, An' danc'd my fill! I'd better gaen an' sair'd the king VOL. II. At Bunker's Hill. A song he had promised to the Author. K "Twas ae night lately in my fun, I gaed a roving wi' the gun, An' brought a paitrick to the grun, And, as the the twilight was begun, Thought nane wad ken. The poor wee thing was little hurt; I straikit it a wee for sport, Ne'er thinkin they wad fash me for't; But, deil-ma-care! Somebody tells the poacher-court The hale affair. Some auld us'd hands had ta'en a note, That sic a hen had got a shot; I was suspected for the plot; I scorn'd to lie; So gat the whissle o' my groat, An' pay't the fee. But, by my gun, o' guns the wale, An' by my pouther an' my hail, An' by my hen, an' by her tail, The game shall I vow an' swear! For this, niest year. As soon's the clockin-time is by, For my gowd guinea: Tho' I should herd the buckskin kye Trowth, they had muckle for to blame! Scarce thro' the feathers ; An' baith a yellow George to claim, An' thole their blethers! It pits me ay as mad's a hare; When time's expedient: Meanwhile I am, respected Sir, Your most obedient. JOHN BARLEYCORN,* A BALLAD. I. THERE was three kings into the east, II. They took a plough and plough'd him down, This is partly composed on the plan of an old song known by the same name. |