Page:Christ's kirk on the green (1).pdf/9

 Canto I. ON THE GREEN. By this Tam Taylor was in's gear When e'er he heard the bell, He ſaid he ſhould make a' a ſteer; When he came there himſel: 172 He gaed to fight in sic a fear, When to the ground he fell; A wife that hat him on the ear, Wi' a great knocking mell, 176 Fell'd him that day.

When they had beir'd like baited bulls, And brain-wood brynt in bails; They were as meek as any mules, That mangit are with mails; 180 For faintneſs thae forfoughten fools Fell down like flaughter'd fails; Freſh men came in, and hail'd the dools, And dang them down in dails, 184 Bedeen that day.

When was done, Dick with an ax, Came forth to fell a fidder ? Quoth he, Where are yon hangit ſmaiks, That wad a flain my britter? His wife bad him gae haim Gib Glaicks, And fae did Meg his thither; He turn'd and gave them baith their paiks, For he durft ding nae ither, 192 But them that day.

178. And brain-wood.) Being diſtracted, of brain-ſick. 180. Mangit are with mails.) Wearied and gall'd with their loading, 182. Flaughter'd fails.) Turff that she country people flex for covering their houſes. 183. Haild the dools.) A phraſe at foot-ball, where the per- ſon who gains the goal, is ſaid so hail the dools, or win the game. 184. Down in dails bedeen.) In heaps a great deal of Bedeen, ſpeedily 186. Came fort to sell a fidder.) Cut down & fidder, or load of wood.