Page:Christ's kirk on the green (1).pdf/21

 Canto III. ON THE GREEN. 21

To try the pith o's rigg and reigns, They gart him cadge this pack: 92 Now as a ſign he had tain pains, His young wife was nae Mack, To rin and eaſe his ſhoulder-bains And ſneg the raips fou-ſnack, 96 We'er knife that day.

Syne the blyth carles tooth and nail, Fell keenly to the wark; To eaſe the gantrees of the ale, And try wha was maiſt ſtark; 100 'Til boord and floor, and all did fail, Wi' ſpilt ale i' the dark; Gart Jock's fit Slide, he, like a flail, Play'd dad, and dang the bark, 104 Aff's ſhins that day.

The Souter, Miller, Smith and Dick, Et cet'ro, cloſe fat cockin, Till waiſted was baith caſh and tick, Sae ill they were to ſlocken: 108 Ga'n out to piſh in gutters thick, Some fell and ſome ga'd rockan, Sawny hang ſneering on his ſtick, To fee bauid Hutcheon bocken 112 Rain bows that day.

The Smith's wife her black deary fought, And ſand him ſkin and birn: Quoth ſhe, this day's wark's be dear bought, He bann'd and gae a girn; 116 Ca'd her a jade, and ſaid ſhe much Gee hame and ſcum her kirn: Whiſht ladren, for gin ye ſae ought Mair, I'ſe win ye a pirn, 120 To reel ſome day.

105. The Souter, &c ) Vide Canto II line 177. 114. Skin and birn.) The mark of a Sheep; the burn on the "horn, and the tar on the ſkin, i. e. She was ſure it was him, with all the marks of her drunken huſband about him, 120. Win ye a pirn.) Is a threatening expreſſion, when