EpistleToJohnGoldie,InKilmarnock

epistletojohngoldie,inkilmarnock

authorofthegospelrecovered.—august,1785

ogowdie,terroro'thewhigs,

dreado'blackcoatsandrev'rendwigs!

sourbigotry,onherlastlegs,

girnsan'looksback,

wishingthetenegyptianplagues

mayseizeyouquick.

poorgapin',glowrin'superstition!

wae'sme,she'sinasadcondition:

fye:bringblackjock,herstatephysician,

toseeherwater;

alas,there'sgroundforgreatsuspicion

she'llne'ergetbetter.

enthusiasm'spastredemption,

ganeinagallopin'consumption:

nota'herquacks,wi'a'theirgumption,

canevermendher;

herfeeblepulsegiesstrongpresumption,

she'llsoonsurrender.

auldorthodoxylangdidgrapple,

foreveryholetogetastapple;

butnowshefetchesatthethrapple,

an'fightsforbreath;

haste,giehernameupinthechapel,

nearuntodeath.

it'syouan'taylorarethechief

toblamefora'thisblackmischief;

but,couldthelord'sainfolkgetleave,

atoomtarbarrel

an'twaredpeatswadbringrelief,

andendthequarrel.

forme,myskill'sbutverysma',

an'skillinprosei'venaneava';

butquietlins-wise,betweenustwa,

weelmayyouspeed!

andtho'theysudyoursairmisca',

ne'erfashyourhead.

e'enswingethedogs,andthreshthemsicker!

themairtheysqueelayechapthethicker;

andstill'manghandsaheartybicker

o'somethingstout;

itgarsanowthor'spulsebeatquicker,

andhelpshiswit.

there'snaethinglikethehonestnappy;

whare'llyee'erseemensaehappy,

orwomensonsie,saftan'sappy,

'tweenmornandmorn,

asthemwhaliketotastethedrappie,

inglassorhorn?