So may his flock increase, an' grow "Tell him he was a master kin', "O, bid him save their harmless lives "An' may they never learn the gaets Of ither vile wanrestfu' pets! To slink thro' slaps, an' reve, an' steal, At stacks o' peas, or stocks o' kail. So may they, like their great forbears, For monie a year come thro' the shears; So wives will gie them bits o' bread, An' bairns greet for them when they're dead "My poor toop-lamb, my son an' heir, O, bid him breed him up wi' care! Au', if he live to be a beast To pit some havins in his breast! "An' niest my yowie, silly thing. Gude keep thee frae a tether-string. O' may thou ne'er forgather up But ay keep mind to moop an' mell "And now, my bairns, wi' my last breath, I lea'e my blessin' wi' you baith; An' when you think upo' your mither Mind to be kin' to ane anither. Now, honest Hughoc, dinna fail, To tell my master a' my tale; An' bid him burn this cursed tether, An', for thy pains, thous'e get my blether. This said, poor Mailie turn'd her head An' clos'd her een amang the dead. POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY LAMENT in rhyme, lament in prose, Past a' remead; The last sad cap-stane o' his woes' Poor Mail e's dead! It's no the loss o' warl's gear, That could sae bitter draw the tear, Or mak our bardie, dowie, wear The mourning weed· He's lost a friend and neebor dear, Thro' a' the toun see trotted by him, A friend mair faithfu' ne'er cam nigh him I wat she was a sheep o' sense, Our bardie, lanely, keeps the spence Or, if he wanders up the howe, An' down the briny pearls rowe, She was nae get o' moorland tips, A bonier fleesh ne'er cross'd the clips Wae worth the man wha first did shape That vile, wanchancie thing a rape! It maks guid fellows girn an' gape, Wi' chokin' dread; An' Robin's bonnet wave wi' crape, For Mailie dead. , a' ye bards on bonie Doon! His heart will never get aboon BOOK IV. HUMOROUS, SATIRICAL, EPIGRAMMATICAI, AND MISCELLANEOUS. TAM O'SHANTER. A TALE. Of Brownyis and of Bogilis full is this buke. GAWIN DOUGLAS. WHEN chapman billies leave the street, This truth fand honest Tam O'Shanter, |