Page:Ancient history of three bonnets (NLS104184532).pdf/24

24 But now and then when they did need him A ſupper and a pint they gied him, That done, they hae nae mair to ſay, And ſcarcely ken him the neiſt day. Poor fallow, now this mony a year, With ſome faint hope, and routh of fear, He had been wreſtling with his fate, A drudge to Joukum and his mate; While Briſtle ſaves his manly look, Regardleſs baith of Roſe and Jouk; Maintains right queitly 'yond the cairns, His honour, conſcience, wife and bairns, Jouk and his rumelgary wife, Drive on a drunken gaming life, 'Cauſe ſober they can get no reſt, For Nick and Duniwhiſtle's ghaiſt, Wha in the garrets often tooly, And ſhore them with a bloody gully.
 * Thus have I ſung in hamlet rhyme,

A ſang that ſcorns the teeth of time, Yet modeſtly I hide my name, Admiring virtue mair than fame. But tent ye wha deſpiſe inſtruction, And give my wark a wrong conſtruction, Frae 'hind my curtain, mind I tell ye, I'll ſhoot a ſatire thro' your belly; But wha with havins jees his Bonnet, And ſays, thanks ty'e for your Sonnet, Ye ſhanna want the praiſes due, To generoſity. Adieu.