ElegyOnTheYear1788

elegyontheyear1788

forlordsorkingsidinnamourn,

e'enletthemdie—forthatthey'reborn:

butoh!prodigioustoreflec'!

atowmont,sirs,isganetowreck!

oeighty-eight,inthysma'space,

whatdireeventshaetakenplace!

ofwhatenjoymentsthouhastreftus!

inwhatapicklethouhasleftus!

thespanishempire'stintahead,

andmyauldteethless,bawtie'sdead:

thetulyie'steugh'tweenpittandfox,

and'tweenourie'stwaweecocks;

thetaneisgame,abluidydevil,

buttothehen-birdsuncocivil;

thetither'ssomethingdouro'treadin,

butbetterstuffne'erclaw'damiddin.

yeministers,comemountthepoupit,

an'crytillyebehearsean'roupit,

foreighty-eight,hewishedyouweel,

an'giedyea'baithgearan'meal;

e'enmoncaplack,andmonyapeck,

yekenyoursels,forlittlefeck!

yebonielasses,dightyoure'en,

forsomeo'youhaetintafrien';

ineighty-eight,yeken,wastaen,

whatye'llne'erhaetogieagain.

observetheverynowtan'sheep,

howdowffan'davielytheycreep;

nay,eventheyirthitsel'doescry,

fore'nburghwellsaregruttendry.

oeighty-nine,thou'sbutabairn,

an'noowreauld,ihope,tolearn!

thoubeardlessboy,ipraytakcare,

thounowhastgotthydaddy'schair;

naehandcuff'd,mizl'd,hap-shackl'dregent,

but,likehimsel,afullfreeagent,

besureyefollowouttheplan

naewaurthanhedid,honestman!

asmucklebetterasyoucan.

january,1,1789.