SecondEpistleToJ.Lapraik

secondepistletoj.lapraik

april21,1785

whilenew-ca'dkyerowteatthestake

an'powniesreekinpleughorbraik,

thishourone'enin'sedgeitake,

toowni'mdebtor

tohonest-hearted,auldlapraik,

forhiskindletter.

forjesketsair,withwearylegs,

rattlinthecornout-owretherigs,

ordealingthro'amangthenaigs

theirten-hours'bite,

myawkartmusesairpleadsandbegs

iwouldnawrite.

thetapetless,ramfeezl'dhizzie,

she'ssaftatbestan'somethinglazy:

quo'she,“yekenwe'vebeensaebusy

thismonthan'mair,

thattrowth,myheadisgrownrightdizzie,

an'somethingsair.”

herdowffexcusespatmemad;

“conscience,”saysi,“yethowlessjade!

i'llwrite,an'thataheartyblaud,

thisveranight;

sodinnayeaffrontyourtrade,

butrhymeitright.

“shallbauldlapraik,thekingo'hearts,

tho'mankindwereapacko'cartes,

rooseyousaeweelforyourdeserts,

intermssaefriendly;

yetye'llneglecttoshawyourparts

an'thankhimkindly?”

saeigatpaperinablink,

an'downgaedstumpieintheink:

"hi,“beforeisleepawink,

ivowi'llcloseit;

an'ifyewinnamakitclink,

byjove,i'llproseit!”

saei'vebeguntoscrawl,butwhether

inrhyme,orprose,orbaiththegither;

orsomehotch-potchthat'srightlyneither,

lettimemakproof;

butishallscribbledownsomeblether

justcleanaff-loof.

myworthyfriend,ne'ergrudgean'carp,

tho'fortuneuseyouhardan'sharp;

come,kittleupyourmoorlandharp

wi'gleesometouch!

ne'ermindhowfortunewaftandwarp;

she'sbutabitch.