[blow]
Nae mercy, then, for airn or steel; [iron]
The brawnie, banie, ploughman chiel, [bony, fellow]
Brings hard owre-hip, wi' sturdy wheel,
The strong forehammer,
Till block an' studdie ring an' reel [anvil]
Wi' dinsome clamour.
When skirlin' weanies see the light, [squalling babies]
Thou maks the gossips clatter bright
How fumblin' cuifs their dearies slight-- [dolts]
Wae worth the name!
Nae Howdie gets a social night, [Midwife]
Or plack frae them. [small coin]
When neibors anger at a plea, [lawsuit]
An' just as wud as wud can be, [mad]
How easy can the barley-bree [-brew]
Cement the quarrel!
It's aye the cheapest lawyer's fee
To taste the barrel.
Alake! that e'er my Muse has reason
To wyte her countrymen wi' treason; [blame]
But mony daily weet their weasan' [throat]
Wi' liquors nice,
An' hardly, in a winter's season,
E'er spier her price.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262