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?