Page:Tale of three bonnets (NLS104187034).pdf/5

Canto I. Bawſy. May I be jy'b'd by great and ſma',

And kytch'd like ony tennis ba',

Be the diſgrace of a' my kin,

If e'er I with my bonnet twin.

Bard. Now ſoon as each had giv'n his aith,

The auld man yielded up his breath,

Was row'd in linen, white as ſnaw,

And to his fathers born awa'.

But ſcarcely he in mools was rotten,

Before his Teſt'ment was forgotten,

As ye ſhall hear frae future ſonnet,

How Joukum finder'd wi' his Bonnet,

And bought frae ſenſeleſs Billy Bawſy,

His to propine a giglet laſſy,

While worthy Briſtle, not ſae doner'd,

Preſerves his Bonnet, and is honour'd.

Thus Caractacus did behave,

Tho' by the fate of war a ſlave;

His body only, — for his mind,

No Roman power could break or bind,

With bonnet on he bauldly ſpake,

His greatneſs gart his fetters crack.

The victor did his friendſhip claim,

And ſent him with new glories' hame.

But leave we Birſs and ſimile,

And to our tale with ardor flee.

Beyond the hills where lang the billies,

Had bred up queys, and kids, and fillies,

And foughten mony a bloody battle,

With thieves that came to lift their cattle;

There liv'd a laſs kept rary-ſhows,

And fidlers ay about her houſe.