Song—WillieChalmers

song—williechalmers

mr.chalmers,agentlemaninayrshire,aparticularfriendofmine,askedmetowriteapoeticepistletoayounglady,hisdulcinea.ihadseenher,butwasscarcelyacquaintedwithher,andwroteasfollows:—

wi'brawnewbranksinmicklepride,

andekeabrawnewbrechan,

mypegasusi'mgotastride,

andupparnassuspechin;

whilesowreabushwi'donwwardcrush,

thedoitedbeastiestammers;

thenuphegets,andoffhesets,

forsakeo'williechalmers.

idoubtna,lass,thatweelken'dname

maycostapairo'blushes;

iamnaestrangertoyourfame,

norhiswarmurgedwishes.

yourboniefacesaemildandsweet,

hishonestheartenamours,

andfaithye'llnobelostawhit,

tho'wair'donwilliechalmers.

auldtruthhersel'mightswearyer'efair,

andhonoursafelybackher;

andmodestyassumeyourair,

andne'eraanemistakher:

andsictwalove-inspiringeen

mightfireevenholypalmers;

naewonderthenthey'vefatalbeen

tohonestwilliechalmers.

idoubtnafortunemayyoushore

somemim-mou'dpouther'dpriestie,

fu'liftedupwi'hebrewlore,

andbanduponhisbreastie:

butoh!whatsignifiestoyou

hislexiconsandgrammars;

thefeelingheart'stheroyalblue,

andthat'swi'williechalmers.

somegapin',glowrin'countralaird

maywarsleforyourfavour;

mayclawhislug,andstraikhisbeard,

andhoastupsomepalaver:

myboniemaid,beforeyewed

sicclumsy-wittedhammers,

seekheavenforhelp,andbarefitskelp

awawi'williechalmers.

forgivethebard!myfondregard

foranethatsharesmybosom,

inspiresmymusetogie'mhisdues

fordeilahairiroosehim.

maypowersaboonuniteyousoon,

andfructifyyouramours,—

andeveryyearcomeinmairdear

toyouandwilliechalmers.