Swith, in some beggar's haffet squattle: There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle Wi' ither kindred jumpin cattle, In shoals and nations: Whare horn nor bane ne'er dare unsettle Your thick plantations. Now haud ye there, ye're out o' sight, The vera tapmost, tow'ring height, My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out, I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't, I wad na been surpris'd to spy But Miss's fine Lunardi! fie, O, Jenny, dinna toss your head, O, wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us It wad frae monie a blunder free us, What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us, ADDRESS TO THE TOOTH-ACHE. My curse upon thy venom'd stang, That shoots my tortur'd gums alang; An' thro' my lugs gies monie a twang, Wi' gnawing vengeance! Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang, Like racking engines! When fevers burn, or ague freezes, But thee, thou hell o' a' diseases, Adown my beard the slavers trickle! While, raving mad, I wish a heckle O' a' the num'rous human dools, Or worthy friends rack'd i' the mools, Sad sight to see! The tricks of knaves, or fash o' fools, Thou bear'st the gree. Where'er that place be priests ca hell, Whence a' the tones o' mis'ry yell, And ranked plagues their numbers tell, In dreadfu' raw, Thou, Toothache, surely bear'st the bell Amang them a'! O thou grim mischief-making chiel, Gie a' the faes o' Scotland's weal A townmond's Toothache! TO A HAGGIS. FAIR fa' your honest, sonsie face The groaning trencher there you fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend & nill While thro' your pores the dews distil His knife see rustic labor dight, And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reeking, rich! Then horn for horn they stretch an' strive, Then auld guidman, maist like to rive, Is there that o'er his French ragout, Or fricasse wad mak her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view Poor Devil! see him owre his trash, Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, But mark the rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread; Clap in his walie nieve a blade, An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, But, if ye wish her gratefu' pray'r, UPON a simmer Sunday morn, When Nature's face is fair, An' snuff the caller air: Holy Fair is a common phrase in the west of Scotland for a sacra mental occasion. |