By this time he was cross the ford, 90 Where in the snaw the chapman smoor'd; And past the birks and meikle stane, Where drunken Charlie brak's neck-bane; And thro' the whins, and by the cairn, Where hunters fand the murder'd bairn; 95 And near the thorn, aboon the well, Where Mungo's mither hang'd hersel'. Before him Doon pours all his floods; The doubling storm roars thro' the woods, The lightnings flash from pole to pole, 100 Near and more near the thunders roll, When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees; Kirk-Alloway seem'd in a bleeze, 105 Thro' ilka bore the beams were glancing, Inspiring bold John Barleycorn! Wi' usquebae, we'll face the devil! 115 But Maggie stood, right sair astonish'd, Warlocks and witches in a dance: A winnock-bunker in the east, 120 There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast; Till roof and rafters a' did dirl. 130 To note upon the haly table, A murderer's banes, in gibbet-airns; Wi' his last gasp his gab did gape; Which even to name wad be unlawfu'. As Tammie glowr'd amaz'd, and curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious; 145 The Piper loud and louder blew, The dancers quick and quicker flew; They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit, And coost her duddies to the wark, 150 And linket at it in her sark! Now Tam, O Tam! had thae been queans, A' plump and strapping in their teens! Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flainen, Been snaw-white seventeen-hunder linen!155 Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair, That ance were plush, o' guid blue hair, I wad hae gi'en them off my hurdies, For ae blink o' the bonie burdies! But wither'd beldams, auld and droll, 160 Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal, Louping an' flinging on a crummock, I wonder didna turn thy stomach. But Tam kennt what was what fu' brawlie; There was ae winsome wench and waulie, 165 That night enlisted in the core, Lang after ken'd on Carrick shore; It was her best, and she was vauntie. But here my Muse her wing maun cour, (A souple jade she was and strang), 185 Even Satan glowr'd and fidg'd fu' fain, 190 And in an instant all was dark: And scarcely had he Maggie rallied, As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke, 195 As open pussie's mortal foes, When, pop! she starts before their nose; When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud; Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou 'll get thy fairin! In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin! In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin! Kate soon will be a woefu' woman! 205 Now, do thy speedy-utmost, Meg, And win the key-stane o' the brig; There, at them thou thy tail may toss, A running stream they darena cross! But ere the key-stane she could make, 210 The fient a tail she had to shake! For Nannie, far before the rest, Hard upon noble Maggie prest, And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle; But little wist she Maggie's mettle! 215 Ae spring brought off her master hale, But left behind her ain gray tail: The carlin claught her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read, BRUCE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY AT BANNOCKBURN (1793) Scots, wha hae wi' WALLACE bled, Or to Victorie! 5 Now's the day, and now's the hour; See approach proud EDWARD's power- Wha will be a traitor knave? 10 Wha can fill a coward's grave? Wha sae base as be a slave? Let him turn and flee! Wha, for Scotland's King and Law, Freedom's sword will strongly draw, 15 FREEMAN stand, or FREEMAN fa', Let him on wi' me! 20 By Oppression's woes and pains! Lay the proud Usurpers low! LIBERTY'S in every blow! Let us Do or Die! |