Page:Monk and the miller's wife (1).pdf/2



Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, Wha ken the benefit of wine, And you who laughing ſeud brown ale, Leave Jinks a wee, and hear a tale. An honeſt Miller winn'd in Fife, That had a young and wanton wife, Wha ſometimes thol'd the pariſh prieſt To make her man a twa-horn'd beaſt ! He paid right mony a viſit till her And to keep in wi' Hab the miller, He'ndeavour'd aft to mak him happy, Whene'er he kent the ale was nappy Sic condeſcenſion in a paſtor, Knit Halbert's love to him the faſter; And by his converſe, troth 'tis true, Hab learn'd to preach when he was fou. Thus all the three were wonder pleas'd, The wife well ſerv'd, the man well eas'd ; This ground his corns, and that did cheriſh Himſelf with dining round the pariſh; Beſs, the good wife, thought it nae ſkaith, Since ſhe was fit to ſerve them baith. When equal is the night and day, And Ceres gives the ſchools the play, A youth, ſprung frae a gentle pater, Bred at St Andrew's alma mater, At day gawn hameward, it fell late, And him benighted by the gate; To lye without, pit mirk did ſhore him, He coudna ſee his thumb before him :