But if, as I'm informed weel, Ye hate as ill's the very deil The flinty heart that canna feel-- Come, sir, here's to you! Hae, there's my haun', I wiss you weel, An' gude be wi' you.
Robt. Burness. Mossgiel, 3rd March, 1786.
In answer to an obliging Letter he sent in the commencement of my poetic career.
Sir, o'er a gill I gat your card, I trow it made me proud; “See wha taks notice o' the bard!” I lap and cried fu' loud.
Now deil-ma-care about their jaw, The senseless, gawky million; I'll cock my nose abune them a', I'm roos'd by Craigen-Gillan!
'Twas noble, sir; 'twas like yourself', To grant your high protection: A great man's smile ye ken fu' well Is aye a blest infection.
Tho', by his banes wha in a tub Match'd Macedonian Sandy! On my ain legs thro' dirt and dub, I independent stand aye,--
And when those legs to gude, warm kail, Wi' welcome canna bear me, A lee dyke-side, a sybow-tail, An' barley-scone shall cheer me.
Heaven spare you lang to kiss the breath O' mony flow'ry simmers! An' bless your bonie lasses baith, I'm tauld they're loosome kimmers!
An' God bless young Dunaskin's laird, The blossom of our gentry! An' may he wear and auld man's beard, A credit to his country.
To A Louse, On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet, At Church
Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie? Your impudence protects you sairly; I canna say but ye strunt rarely, Owre gauze and lace; Tho', faith! I fear ye dine but sparely On sic a place.
Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner, Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner, How daur ye set your fit upon her-- Sae fine a lady? Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner On some poor body.
Swith! in some beggar's haffet squattle; There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle, Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle, In shoals and nations; Whaur horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle Your thick plantations.
Now haud you there, ye're out o' sight, Below the fatt'rels, snug and tight; Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right, Till ye've got on it-- The verra tapmost, tow'rin height O' Miss' bonnet.
My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out, As plump an' grey as ony groset: O for some rank, mercurial rozet, Or fell, red smeddum, I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't, Wad dress your droddum.