He marches thro' amang the stacks,
Tho' he was something sturtin'; [staggering]
The graip he for a harrow taks, [dung-fork]
An' haurls at his curpin: [trails, back]
An' ev'ry now an' then, he says,
'Hemp-seed! I saw thee,
An' her that is to be my lass
Come after me an' draw thee
As fast this night.'
He whistled up Lord Lennox' march,
To keep his courage cheery;
Altho' his hair began to arch,
He was sae fley'd an' eerie: [scared, awe-struck]
Till presently he hears a squeak,
An' then a grane an' gruntle; [groan]
He by his shouther gae a keek, [shoulder gave, peep]
An' tumbl'd wi' a wintle [summersault]
Out-owre that night.
He roar'd a horrid murder-shout,
In dreadfu' desperation!
An' young an' auld come rinnin' out,
An' hear the sad narration:
He swoor 'twas hilchin Jean M'Craw, [halting]
Or crouchie Merran Humphie, [hunchbacked Marian]
Till stop! she trotted thro' them a';
An' wha was it but grumphie [the sow]
Asteer that night! [Astir]
Meg fain wad to the barn gane [have gone]
To winn three wechts o' naething;[15]
But for to meet the Deil her lane, [alone]
She pat but little faith in: [put]
She gies the herd a pickle nits, [herd-boy, few]
And twa red-cheekit apples,
To watch, while for the barn she sets, [sets out]
In hopes to see Tam Kipples
That very night.
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