But sax Scotch miles, thou try't their mettle Nae whip nor spur, but just a wattle2 O' saugh or hazle. Thou was a noble fittie-lan', As e'er in tug or tow was drawn! 7 On guid March weather, Hae turn'd sax3 rood beside our han' For days thegither. Thou never braindg't," an' fecht,1o an' fliskit," Till spritty knowes13 wad rair't and risket," When frosts lay lang an' snaws were deep, I gied thy cog16 a wee bit heap Aboon the timmer:17 I kenn'd my Maggie wad na sleep In cart or car thou never reestit;19 The steyest brae20 thou wad hae faced it; But just thy step a wee thing hastit," My pleugh is now thy bairn-time a';2o 23 1 Made them wheeze.-2 A twig.-3 Willow.-4 The near-horse of the hindmost pair in the plough.-5 Rope.- Eight.-7 Going.-8 Six.-9 Reeled forward..—10 Fought.—11 Fretted.—12 The breast.-13 Small hills full of toughrooted plants or weeds.-14 Make a noise like the tearing of roots.-15 Fell. -16 Wooden dish.-17 Above the brim.-18 Summer.-19 Stood restive.20 Steepest hill. 21 Leaped. -22 Reared. 23 Sprung up, or forward. 24 Hastened. -25 Went smoothly.-26 All the team belonging to my plough are of thy brood. Forbye sax mae I've sell't awa',1 That thou hast nurst: They drew me thretteen pund an' twa” Monie a sair dargs we twa hae wrought, Yet here to crazy age we 're brought An' think na', my auld trusty servan', 6 A heapet stimpart, I'll reserve ane, We've worn to crazy years thegither; Where ye may nobly rax1 your leather, THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE, The Author's only pet yowe. AN UNCO MOURNFU' TALE. As Mailie, an' her lambs thegither, 1 Besides six more which I have sold. 2 Thirteen pounds and two-perhaps fifteen pounds is here meant, as the poet praises the goodness of Maggie's stock, 3 Day's labor.-4 My last drinking bout.-5 Heaped.—6 The eighth part of a bushel.-7 Totter.-8 Cautious. - Spared. -10 Stretch.-11 Hoof. - 12 Did cast.-13 Wrestled, or fell struggling.-14 A neebor herd callan.-15 Stupidly. Wi' glowrin' een,' an lifted han's, "Oh, bid him save their harmless lives, "An' may they never learn the gaets3 6 To slink thro' slaps," an' reave, an' steal, An' bairns greets for them when they 're dead Oh, bid him breed him up wi' care! An' if he live to be a beast, Te pit some havins1o in his breast! 1 Staring eyes.-2 Foxes. - 3 Manners. - 4 Restless.-5 Gates.-6 Rove. 7 Forefathers.-8 Weep.-9 Ram-lamb.-10 Good-manners. 3 An' warn him, what I winna name, "And now, my bairns, wi' my last breath, An' when you think upo' your mither, "Now, honest Hughoc, dinna fail To tell my Master a' my tale; 12 POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY. LAMENT in rhyme, lament in prose, 13 Wi' saut13 tears trickling down your nose; Past a' remead;" 14 The last sad cap-stane15 of his woes; It's no the loss o' warl's gear, That could sae bitter draw the tear, He's lost a friend and neebor dear, Thro' a' the town she trotted by him; 1 Ewes.-2 Hoofs.-3 Ill-bred.-4 Next.-5 God.—6 To meet.-7 Blasted.— 8 Ram.-9 To nibble as a sheep.-10 Meddle.-11 Bladder.--12 Eyes.-13 Salt. 14 Remedy.-15 Cope-stone, or top-stone.-16 Worn with grief. Wi' kindly bleat, when she did spy him, A friend mair faithfu' ne'er cam nigh him, I wat she was a sheep o' sense, Thro' thievish greed; Our Bardie, lanely, keeps the spence3 Or, if he wanders up the howe,* 2 Comes bleating to him, o'er the knowe, An' down the briny pearls rowe She was nae get o' moorland tips, 12 Wae worth the man wha first did shape Oh, a' ye bards on bonnie Doon! His heart will never get aboon His Mailie dead! 1 Decency.-2 Greediness.-3 The country parlor.-4 A hollow, or dell.5 Roll.-6 Ram.-7 Matted fleece.-8 Progenitors.-9 Fleece.-10 Unlucky.11 Rope.-2 To twist the features in agony.-13 A hollow moan. |