Page:Scotland's skaith, or, The history o' Will and Jean.pdf/20

20 "Monster, wha could leave neglected
 * Three sma' infants and a wife,

Naked—starving—inprotected,—
 * Them, too, dearer ance than life.

Villain, wha wi' graceless folly
 * Ruin'd her he ought to save,

Chang'd her joy to melancholy,
 * Begg'ry, and—perhaps, a grave."

Starting—wi' remorse distracted,—
 * Crush'd wi' Grief's increasing load,

Up he bang'd; and sair afflicted,
 * Sad and silent, took the road.

Sometimes briskly, sometimes flaggin,
 * Sometimes helpit, Will gat forth;

On a cart, or in a waggon,
 * Hirpling ay towards the North.

Tir'd ae e'ening, stepping hooly,
 * Pondering on his thraward fate,

In the bonny month o' July
 * Willie, heedless, tint his gate.

Saft the southlan breeze was blawing,
 * Sweetly sugh'd the green aik wood,

Loud the din o' streams fast fa'ing,
 * Strak the ear wi' thundering thud:

Ewes and lambs on braes ran bleeting,
 * Linties sang on ilka tree:

Frae the wast the sun, near setting,
 * Flam'd on towers sae hie:

Roslin towers, and braes sae bonny;
 * Craigs and water, woods and glen:

Roslin's banks, unpeer'd by ony
 * Save the Muse's.