But aiblins honest Master Heron perhaps Had at the time some dainty fair one, spend To ware his theologic care on, And holy study; And tired o' sauls to waste his lear on, learning E'en tried the body. But what d'ye think, my trusty fier? Ye'll now disdain me! Ye glaiket, gleesome, dainty damies, Lowp, sing, and lave your pretty limbies, Ye ken, ye ken, That strang Necessity supreme is ’Mang sons o men. I hae a wife and twa wee laddies, duddies; comrade giddy winding leap pottage suits of clothes Ye ken yoursels my heart right proud is, But I'll sned besoms- thraw saugh woodies,1 1 Cut birches for brooms, and twist willow twigs to bind them. Woodies-"two or three willow twigs twisted to Lord, help me through this warld o' care! I'm weary sick o't late and air! Not but I hae a richer share Than monie ithers; But why should ae man better fare, Come, firm Resolve, take thou the van, And let us mind, faint heart ne'er wan Wha does the utmost that he can, early Will whyles do mair. sometimes But to conclude my silly rhyme (I'm scant o' verse, and scant o' time), To make a happy fireside clime To weans and wife, That's the true pathos and sublime My compliments to Sister Beckie, little ones gether, used for binding the end of a broom or birch besom." - Dr. Jamieson. 1 The male hemp, that which bears the seed; "Ye have a stalk o' carl-hemp in you," is a Scotch proverb. — Kelly. 2 Chuckie, a familiar term for a hen, transferred endearingly to a matron of the human species. As e'er tread clay! And gratefully, my guid auld cockie, ROBERT BUrns. ON CAPTAIN GROSE'S PEREGRINATIONS THROUGH SCOTLAND, COLLECTING THE ANTIQUITIES OF THAT KINGDOM. Francis Grose was a broken-down English gentleman who, under the impulse of poverty, had been induced to exercise considerable literary and artistic talents for the benefit of the public. A large work on the Antiquities of England had been completed some years ago. He had also produced a treatise on Arms and Armour, another on Military Antiquities, and several minor works. The genius and social spirit of the man were scarcely more remarkable than his personal figure, which was ludicrously squat and obese. Grose having made an inroad into Scotland, for the purpose of sketching and chronicling its antiquities, Burns met him at Friars' Carse, and was greatly amused by his aspect and conversation. The comic Muse also caught at the antiquarian enthusiasm as a proper subject. HEAR, Land o' Cakes, and brither Scots, 1 Maidenkirk is an inversion of the name of Kirkmaiden, in Wigtonshire, the most southerly parish in Scotland. If there's a hole in a' your coats, I rede you tent it: advise—give heed to A chiel's amang you taking notes, And, faith, he'll prent it. If in your bounds ye chance to light That's he, mark weel And wow! he has an unco slight O' cauk and keel.1 plump knack By some auld houlet-haunted biggin, owl — building Or kirk deserted by its riggin', It's ten to ane ye'll find him snug in Some eldritch part, Wi' deils, they say, Lord save's! colleaguin' At some black art. roof elfish Ilk ghaist that haunts auld ha' or chaumer, chamber Ye gipsy-gang that deal in glamour, necromancy And you deep-read in hell's black grammar, Warlocks and witches! Ye'll quake at his conjuring hammer, Ye midnight bitches. It's tauld he was a sodger bred, And ane wad rather fa'n than fled; fallen But now he's quat the spurtle blade,2 1 Chalk and red or black lead-pencil. 2 A spurtle is a stick with which pottage, gruel, etc., are stirred when boiling; used here like "toasting-iron." And ta'en the And dog-skin wallet, Antiquarian trade, I think they call it. He has a fouth o' auld nick-nackets, tackets, A towmont guid; abundance keep shoe-nails twelvemonth And parritch-pats, and auld saut-backets, Before the Flood. Of Eve's first fire he has a cinder; O' Balaam's ass; A broomstick o' the witch of Endor, shovel Forbye, he'll shape you aff, fu' gleg, Besides — quickly The cut of Adam's philabeg; The knife that nicket Abel's craig, He'll prove you fully, It was a faulding jocteleg,1 Or lang-kail gully.2 neck 1 "Jocktaleg, a clasp-knife; Northumberland and Scotland. Probably from Jock of Liege. Liege formerly supplied Scotland with cutlery." — Grose's Provincial Glossary. “The etymology of this word remained unknown till not many years ago, that an old knife was found, having this inscription Jacques de Liege, the name of the cutler. Thus it is in exact analogy with Andrea di Ferrara." — Lord Hailes. 2 A long knife for cutting coleworts. |