Page:Monk and the miller's wife (4).pdf/7

 He said, and fast the miller flew,

And frae their nests the bottles drew;

Then first the scholar's health he toasted,

Whase art had gart him feed on roasted;

His father's neist,and a’ the rest

O' his good friends the wish’d him best,

Which were o'er lang some at the time,

In a short tale to put in-rhyme:

Thus, while the miller and the youth

Were blythly slock'ning o’ their drowth,

Bess, fretting, scarcely held frae greeting,

The priest inclos’d; stood vex’d'and sweating,

"O vow!” said Hab, “if ane might spier,

Dear Maister James, wha brought our cheer?

Sic laits appear to your learning lawfu'.”

We hardly think your learning latvfu'."

“To bring your doubts to a conclusion,"

Says James, “ken I'm a Rosicrucian;

Ane of the set that never carries

Oh traffic with black deels or fairies;

There's mony a sp'rit that's no'a deel,

That constantly around us wheel.

There was a sage call’d Albumazor,

Whase wit was gleg as ony razor:

Frae this great man we learn’d the skill

To bring these gentry to our will;

And they appear when we've a'mind,

In ony shape o’ human kind:

Now, if you’ll drap your foolish fear,

I’ll gar my Pacolet appear.”

Hab fidg’d and lough and elbuck clew,

Baith fear'd and fond a sp’rit to view:

At last his courage wan the day,

He to the scholar’s will gae way