Page:Rab and Ringan, a tale (3).pdf/3

 This question, Sir, has been right weil dispate

And meikle, weel-a-wat’s been said about it;

Thiels, that precisely to the point can speak,

And gallop o’er lang blauds of kittle Greek,

Ia’e sent frae ilka side their aharpe opinion,

And peel’d it up as ane wad peel an ingen*.

I winna plague you lang wi’ my poor spale,

But only crave your patience to a Tale:

By which ye’ll ken on whatna side I’m stinnin’,

As I perceive your hindmost minute’s rinnin’.

There liv’d in Fife, an auld, stout, warldly ehiel,

Wha’s stomach kend nae fare but milk and meal;

A wife he had, I think they ca’d her Bell,

And twa big sons, amaist as heigh’s himsel,

Rab was a gleg, smart cock, with powdered pash,

Ringan, a slow, fear’d, bashfu’, simple hash,


 * The question had been spoken up on both sides before this Tae

as recited, which was the last opinion given on the debate.