Nor only bring them tidings hame, There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith, And blinkin Bess of Annandale, And black Joan, frae Crichton Peel,1 Five wighter Carlins were na found To send a lad to London town, And mony a knight, and mony a laird, O mony a knight, and mony a laird, But nae ane could their fancy please, The first ane was a belted Knight, And he wad gae to London town, And he wad do their errands weel, And ilka ane about the court 1 Sanquhar. Sir James Johnston of Westerhall. The neist cam in a Soger youth, He wad na hecht them courtly gifts, Then, wham to chuse, and wham refuse, For some had Gentlefolks to please, Then out spak mim-mou'd Meg o' Nith, For the auld Gudeman o' London court* She didna care a pin; But she wad send the Soger youth, To greet his eldest son." Then up sprang Bess o' Annandale, "For far-off fowls hae feathers fair, Says black Joan frae Crichton Peel, A Carlin stoor and grim, "The auld Gudeman, and the young Gudeman, For me may sink or swim; 9 Captain Patrick Millar of Dalswinton. 5 The Prince of Wales. 4 The King. For fools will prate o' right or wrang, Then whisky Jean spak owre her drink, "Ye weel ken, kimmers a', The auld gudeman o' London court, 66 And mony a friend that kiss'd his caup But it's ne'er be said o' whisky Jean- Then slow raise Marjory o' the Lochs, Her ancient weed was russet gray, "There's some great folk set light by me, Sae how this mighty plea may end, ELECTION BALLAD FOR WESTERHA' Tune-Up and waur them a', Willie." THE Laddies by the banks o' Nith Wad trust his Grace' wi a', Jamie; But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King- 1 The fourth Duke of Queensberry, who supported the proposal that, dur ing George III's illness, the Prince of Wales should assume the Government with full prerogative. Chorus.-Up and waur them a', Jamie, The Johnstones hae the guidin o't, The day he stude his country's friend, But wha is he, his country's boast? To end the wark, here's Whistlebirk, PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT THE THEATRE OF DUMFRIES On New Year's Day Evening, 1790. No song nor dance I bring from yon great city, I come to wish you all a good New Year! If wiser too-he hinted some suggestion, Ye sprightly youths, quite flush with hope and spirit, Who think to storm the world by dint of merit, To you the dotard has a deal to say, In his sly, dry, sententious proverb way! He bids you mind, amid your thoughtless rattle, Last, tho' not least in love, ye youthful fair, For our sincere, tho' haply weak endeavours, With grateful pride we own your many favours; And howsoe'er our tongues may ill reveal it, Believe our glowing bosoms truly feel it. SKETCH-NEW YEARS' DAY [1790] To Mrs. Dunlop. THIS day, Time winds th' exhausted chain; To run the twelvemonth's length again: I see, the old bald-pated fellow, With ardent eyes, complexion sallow, 'Adjust the unimpair'd machine, To wheel the equal, dull routine. |