EpistleToJ.Lapraik,AnOldScottishBard

epistletoj.lapraik,anoldscottishbard

april1,1785

whilebriersan'woodbinesbuddinggreen,

an'paitricksscraichinloudate'en,

an'morningpoussiewhiddinseen,

inspiremymuse,

thisfreedom,inanunknownfrien',

iprayexcuse.

onfasten—e'enwehadarockin,

toca'thecrackandweaveourstockin;

andtherewasmucklefunandjokin,

yeneednadoubt;

atlengthwehadaheartyyokin

atsangabout.

therewasaesang,amangtherest,

aboonthema'itpleas'dmebest,

thatsomekindhusbandhadaddrest

tosomesweetwife;

itthirl'dtheheart-stringsthro'thebreast,

a'tothelife.

i'vescarceheardoughtdescrib'dsaeweel,

whatgen'rous,manlybosomsfeel;

thoughti“canthisbepope,orsteele,

orbeattie'swark?”

theytauldme'twasanoddkindchiel

aboutmuirkirk.

itpatmefidgin-faintohear't,

an'saeabouthimthereispeir't;

thena'thatkenthimrounddeclar'd

hehadingine;

thatnaneexcell'dit,fewcamnear't,

itwassaefine:

that,sethimtoapintofale,

an'eitherdouceormerrytale,

orrhymesan'sangshe'dmadehimsel,

orwittycatches—

'tweeninvernessan'teviotdale,

hehadfewmatches.

thenupigat,an'swooranaith,

tho'ishouldpawnmypleughan'graith,

ordieacadgerpownie'sdeath,

atsomedyke-back,

apintan'gilli'dgiethembaith,

tohearyourcrack.

but,firstan'foremost,ishouldtell,

amaistassoonasicouldspell,

itothecrambo-jinglefell;

tho'rudean'rough—

yetcrooningtoabody'ssel'

doesweeleneugh.