Page:Monk and the miller's wife (4).pdf/5

 The stov’d mud roasted we afford,

Are aft great strangers on our board.”

“Pottage!” quoth Hab, “ye senseless tawpie!

Think ye this youth's a gilly-gawpie?

And that his gentle stamock’s master

To worry up a pint o’ plaister?

Like our mill-knavės tllat lift the lading,

Whase kytes can streek ont like raw plaiding.

S,with roast a lien, or fry some chickens,

And send for ale frae Maggy Pickens.”

“Hont aye," quoth she, "ye may wiel ken

"Tis ill brought butt that's no there ben;

When but last owk, nae farder gane,

The laird got a' to pay his kain."

Then James, wha bad a good a guess

Of what was in the house as Bess,

With pawky smile, this plea to end,

To please himsel mid ease his friend,

First open'd, with a slee oration,

His wondrous skill in conjuration.

Said he, “By this fell art I'm ale

To whup aff ony great man’s table

Whate'er I like to 'mak a meal o’-

Either in part, or yet the hale o’-

And if you please i'll shaw my art”-

Cries Halbert, “Faith wi' a' my heart!”

Bess fain’d hersel’-cried, “Lord be here!”

And near hand fell a swoon for fear.

James leugh, and bade her naething dread,

Syne to his conjuring went with speed:

And first he draws a circle round,

Then utters mony a magic sound

O' words, part Latin, Greek, and Dutch,

Laow to fright a very witch: