Indeed it would be
hard to find anywhere in our literature a more revealing utterance of
those effects of alcohol that are not discussed in scientific
literature--the joyous exhilaration, the conviction of (comparative)
sobriety, the temporary intensification of the feeling of good
fellowship. The challenge to the moon is unsurpassable in its
unconscious humor. Yet Arnold thought the world of Scotch drink
unbeautiful.
WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MAUT
O, Willie brew'd a peck o' maut, [malt]
And Rob and Allan cam to see;
Three blyther hearts, that lee-lang night, [live-long]
Ye wad na found in Christendie. [would not have, Christendom]
We are na fou', we're nae that fou, [drunk]
But just a drappie in our e'e; [droplet]
The cock may craw, the day may daw, [crow, dawn]
And aye we'll taste the barley-bree. [brew]
Here are we met, three merry boys,
Three merry boys, I trow, are we;
And mony a night we've merry been,
And mony mae we hope to be! [more]
It is the moon, I ken her horn,
That's blinkin' in the lift sae hie; [shining, sky, high]
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, [entice]
But, by my sooth! she'll wait a wee.
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