Page:Monk and the miller's wife (3).pdf/4

 4 To lengthen out description here, Wad bat offend the modest ear, And beet the lewder youthfu' flame! That we by satire strive to tame. Suppose the wicked actibn o’er, And James continuing still to glowr; Wha saw ihe wife, as fast as able, Spread a ciean servit on the table, And syne, frae the ha’ ingle, bring ben A piping het young roasted hen, And twa good bottles stout and clear, of strong ale, and ane of beer. But wicked luck: just as the priest Shot in his lork in chucky’s breast, Th’unwelcome miller gae a roar, Cry’d, " -Bessy, haste ye, ope the door.”-— With that the haly letcher fled, And darn’d himsel behint a bed ; While Bessy huddled all things by. That nought the cuckold might espy; Syne loot him in,—but out of tune, Spier'd why he left the mill sae soon ? 'I come, said he, as manners claims, ' To track and wait on Master James, ‘ Whilk I should do, tho' ne’er sae bissy: 'I sent him here, gudewife, where is he ?' 'Ye sent him here! (quo Bessy, grumblint) 'Kend I this James ? a chiel came rumbling; 'But how was I assur’d, when dark, 'That he had been nae thievish spark, 'Or some rude wencher, gotten a doze, 'That a weak wife could ill oppose?’ 'And what came of him, speak nae langer, Cries Halbert in a highland anger.