His locked, letter'd, braw brass collar,
Shew'd him the gentleman and scholar;
But though he was o' high degree,
The fient a pride, nae pride had he; [devil]
But wad hae spent are hour caressin'
E'en wi' a tinkler-gipsy's messan: [mongrel]
At kirk or market, mill or smiddie, [smithy]
Nae tawted tyke, though e'er sae duddie, [matted cur, ragged]
But he wad stand as glad to see him,
An' stroan'd on stanes an' hillocks wi' him. [lanted]
The tither was a ploughman's collie, [other]
A rhyming, ranting, raving billie; [fellow]
Wha for his friend and comrade had him,
And in his freaks had Luath ca'd him,
After some dog in Highland sang,
Was made lang syne--Lord knows how lang.
He was a gash an' faithfu' tyke, [wise, dog]
As ever lap a sheugh or dyke; [leapt, ditch, wall]
His honest sonsie, bawsent face [pleasant, white-marked]
Aye gat him friends in ilka place, [every]
His breast was white, his tousie back [shaggy]
Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black:
His gawsie tail, wi' upward curl, [joyous]
Hung o'er his hurdles wi' a swirl.
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