EpistleToDr.Blacklock

epistletodr.blacklock

ellisland,21stoct.,1789.

wow,butyourlettermademevauntie!

andareyehale,andweelandcantie?

iken'ditstill,yourweebitjauntie

wadbringyeto:

lordsendyouayeasweel'siwantye!

andthenye'lldo.

theill-thiefblawtheheronsouth!

andneverdrinkbenearhisdrouth!

hetauldmyselfbywordo'mouth,

he'dtakmyletter;

ilippen'dtothechielintrouth,

andbadenaebetter.

butaiblins,honestmasterheron

had,atthetime,somedaintyfairone

towarethistheologiccareon,

andholystudy;

andtiredo'saulstowastehislearon,

e'entriedthebody.

butwhatd'yethink,mytrustyfere,

i'mturnedagauger—peacebehere!

parnassianqueans,ifear,ifear,

ye'llnowdisdainme!

andthenmyfiftypoundsayear

willlittlegainme.

yeglaikit,gleesome,daintydamies,

wha,bycastalia'swimplinstreamies,

lowp,sing,andlaveyourprettylimbies,

yeken,yeken,

thatstrangnecessitysupremeis

'mangsonso'men.

ihaeawifeandtwaweeladdies;

theymaunhaebroseandbratso'duddies;

yekenyourselsmyheartrightproudis—

ineednavaunt

buti'llsnedbesoms,thrawsaughwoodies,

beforetheywant.

lordhelpmethro'thiswarldo'care!

i'mwearysicko'tlateandair!

notbutihaearichershare

thanmonyithers;

butwhyshouldaemanbetterfare,

anda'menbrithers?

come,firmresolve,takethouthevan,

thoustalko'carl-hempinman!

andletusmind,faintheartne'erwan

aladyfair:

whadoestheutmostthathecan,

willwhilesdomair.