A ratton rattl'd up the wa',

An' she cry'd, L-d preserve her!
An' ran thro' midden-hole an' a',
An' pray'd wi' zeal and fervour
Fu' fast that night.

rat

[Notes]

XXIII

They hoy't out Will, wi' sair advice;
They hecht him some fine braw ane;
It chanc'd the stack he faddom't thrice,
Was timmer-propt for thrawin:
He taks a swirlie, auld moss-oak

For some black gruesome carlin;
An' loot a winze, an' drew a stroke,
Till skin in blypes cam haurlin
Aff's nieves that night.

XXIV

A wanton widow Leezie was,

As cantie as a kittlin;

But och! that night, amang the shaws,

She gat a fearfu' settlin!

She thro' the whins, an' by the cairn,

An' owre the hill gaed scrievin;

Whare three lairds' lands net at a burn,

To dip her left sark-sleeve in

Was bent that night.

G

lively; kitten woods

careering

brook

[Notes]

VOL. I.

ferns; hillside

young cow in the open

leaped; sheath

lark-high

foot

ears

XXVI

Amang the brachens, on the brae,
Between her an' the moon,

The Deil, or else an outler quey,
Gat up an' gae a croon :

Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool;

Near lav'rock-height she jumpit,

But mist a fit, an' in the pool

Out-owre the lugs she plumpit

Wi' a plunge that night.

[Notes]

XXVII

In order, on the clean hearth-stane,
The luggies three are ranged;
And ev'ry time great care is taen
To see them duly changed:

Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys
Sin Mar's-year did desire,

Because he gat the toom dish thrice,

He heav'd them on the fire

In wrath that night.

1715

empty

XXVIII

Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks,

I wat they did na weary;

And unco tales, an' funnie jokes—
Their sports were cheap an' cheery :
Till butter'd sow'ns, wi' fragrant lunt,
Set a' their gabs a-steerin;
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt,

They parted aff careerin

Fu' blythe that night.

wot

wondrous

[Notes]

steam

tongues wagging liquor

THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR
MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS
AULD MARE, MAGGIE

ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIPP OF CORN TO
HANSEL IN THE NEW-YEAR

handful from the sheaf; belly

hollow

backed; knobby

gone; colt

lea

I

A GUID NEW-YEAR I wish thee, Maggie!
Hae, there's a ripp to thy auld baggie:
Tho' thou's howe-backit now, an' knaggie,
I've seen the day

Thou could hae gaen like onie staggie,
Out-owre the lay.

drooping

shiny

prepared;

excite

II

Tho' now thou's dowie, stiff, an' crazy,
An' thy auld hide as white's a daisie,
I've seen thee dappl't, sleek an' glaizie,
A bonie gray:

He should been tight that daur't to raize thee,
Ance in a day.

stately, compact limber

III

Thou ance was i' the foremost rank,

A filly buirdly, steeve, an' swank;

It's now some nine-an'-twenty year
Sin' thou was my guid-father's meere;
He gied me thee, o' tocher clear,
An' fifty mark;

Tho' it was sma', 'twas weel-won gear,
An' thou was stark.

father-inlaw's wholly as dowry

strong

V

When first I gaed to woo my Jenny,
Ye then was trottin wi' your minnie:
Tho' ye was trickie, slee, an' funnie,
Ye ne'er was donsie ;
But hamely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie,

An' unco sonsie.

VI

That day, ye pranc'd wi' muckle pride,
When ye bure hame my bonie bride:
An' sweet an' gracefu' she did ride,
Wi' maiden air!

Kyle-Stewart I could bragged wide,
For sic a pair.

went

mother

sly

vicious

tractable

good

tempered

have challenged