EpistleToMrs.Scott

epistletomrs.scott

gudewifeofwauchope—house,roxburghshire.

gudewife,

iminditweelinearlydate,

wheniwasbardless,young,andblate,

an'firstcouldthreshthebarn,

orhaudayokin'atthepleugh;

an,tho'forfoughtensaireneugh,

yetuncoproudtolearn:

whenfirstamangtheyellowcorn

amanireckon'dwas,

an'wi'thelaveilkmerrymorn

couldrankmyrigandlass,

stillshearing,andclearing

thetitherstookedraw,

wi'claivers,an'haivers,

wearingthedayawa.

e'enthen,awish,(iminditspow'r),

awishthattomylatesthour

shallstronglyheavemybreast,

thatiforpoorauldscotland'ssake

someusefu'planorbookcouldmake,

orsingasangatleast.

theroughburr-thistle,spreadingwide

amangthebeardedbear,

iturn'dtheweeder-clipsaside,

an'spar'dthesymboldear:

nonation,nostation,

myenvye'ercouldraise;

ascotstill,butblotstill,

iknewnaehigherpraise.

butstilltheelementso'sang,

informlessjumble,rightan'wrang,

wildfloatedinmybrain;

'tillonthathar'stisaidbefore,

maypartnerinthemerrycore,

sherous'dtheformingstrain;

iseeheryet,thesonsiequean,

thatlightedupmyjingle,

herwitchingsmile,herpawkyeen

thatgartmyheart-stringstingle;

ifired,inspired,

ateverykindlingkeek,

butbashing,anddashing,

ifearedayetospeak.

healthtothesex!ilkguidchielsays:

wi'merrydanceinwinterdays,

an'wetoshareincommon;

thegusto'joy,thebalmofwoe,

thesaulo'life,theheavenbelow,