PoemsandSongsofRobertBurnsDeathandDoctorHornbook

deathanddoctorhornbook

atruestory

somebooksareliesfraeendtoend,

andsomegreatlieswereneverpenn'd:

ev'nministerstheyhaebeenkenn'd,

inholyrapture,

arousingwhidattimestovend,

andnail'twi'scripture.

butthisthatiamgauntotell,

whichlatelyonanightbefell,

isjustastrue'sthedeil'sinhell

ordublincity:

thate'erhenearercomesoursel'

'samucklepity.

theclachanyillhadmademecanty,

iwasnafou,butjusthadplenty;

istacher'dwhiles,butyettootentaye

tofreetheditches;

an'hillocks,stanes,an'bushes,kenn'deye

fraeghaistsan'witches.

therisingmoonbegantoglowre

thedistantcumnockhillsout-owre:

tocountherhorns,wi'amypow'r,

isetmysel';

butwhethershehadthreeorfour,

icou'dnatell.

iwascomeroundaboutthehill,

an'todlindownonwillie'smill,

settingmystaffwi'a'myskill,

tokeepmesicker;

tho'leewardwhiles,againstmywill,

itookabicker.

itherewi'somethingdidforgather,

thatpatmeinaneerieswither;

an'awfu'scythe,out-owreaeshouther,

clear-dangling,hang;

athree-tae'dleisterontheither

lay,largean'lang.

itsstatureseem'dlangscotchellstwa,

thequeerestshapethate'erisaw,

forfientawameithadava;

andthenitsshanks,

theywereasthin,assharpan'sma'

ascheekso'branks.

“guid-een,”quo'i;“friend!haeyebeenmawin,

whenitherfolkarebusysawin!”

iseem'dtomakeakindo'stan'

butnaethingspak;

atlength,saysi,“friend!whareyegaun?

willyegoback?”