Dr. Mac,* Dr. Mac, you should stretch on a rack, To strike evil-doers wi' terror; To join faith and sense upon onie pretence, Is heretic, damnable error. Town of Ayr, Town of Ayr, it was mad, I declare, Provost John is still deaf to the church's relief, D'rymple mild, ‡ D'rymple mild, tho' your heart's like a child, And your life like the new-driv'n snaw, Yet that winna save ye, auld Satan must hae ye, Rumble John, § Rumble John, count the steps wi' a groan, Cry the book is wi' heresy cramm'd; Then lug out your ladle, deal brimstone like adle, Simper James, || Simper James, leave the fair Killie dames, There's a holier chase in your view; I'll lay on your head, that the pack ye'll soon lead, For puppies like you there's but few Singet Sawney,¶ Singet Sawney, are ye herding the Wï' a jump, yell, and howl, alarm every soul, Daddy Auld,* Daddy Auld, there's a tod in the fauld, A tod meikle waur than the Clerk; Tho' ye can do little skaith, ye'll be in at the death, An' if ye canna bite, ye may bark. Davie Bluster, † Davie Bluster, if for a saint ye do muster, The corps is no nice of recruits; Yet to worth let's be just, royal blood ye might boast, If the ass was the king of the brutes. Jamy Goose, Jamy Goose, ye hae made but toom roost, In hunting the wicked lieutenant; But the Doctor's your mark, for the Lord's haly ark, He has cooper'd, and caw'd a wrang pin in't. Poet Willie, § Poet Willie, gie the Doctor a volley, Andro Gouk, || Andro Gouk, ye may slander the book, And the book not the waur, let me tell ye! Ye are rich, and look big, but lay by hat and wig, And ye'll hae a calf's head o'sma' value. Barr Steenie, * Barr Steenie, what mean ye? what mean ye? If ye'll meddle nae mair wi' the matter, Ye may hae some pretence to havins and sense, Irvine Side, Irvine Side, wi' your turkey-cock pride, Of manhood but sma' is your share; Ye've the figure, 'tis true, ev'n your faes will allow, And your friends they dare grant ye nae mair. Muirland Jock, ‡ Muirland Jock, when the Lord makes a rock To crush Common Sense for her sins; If ill manners were wit, there's no mortal so fit Holy Will, § Holy Will, there was wit i' your sku, The timmer is scant, when ye're taen for a saint, Calvin's sons, Calvin's sons, seize your sp'ritual guns, Your hearts are the stuff, will be powther enough, Poet Burns, Poet Burns, wi' your priest-skelping turns, Your Muse is a gipsie, e'en tho' she were tipsie, * S―n Y-g, of B-r. † Mr. Sh, of G-n. An Elder in M-e. ILMARNOC LETTER TO JOHN GOUDIE, KILMARNOCK, ON THE PUBLICATION OF HIS ESSAYS. O GOUDIE! terror o' the whigs, Girnin looks back, Wishing the ten Egyptian plagues Poor gapin', glowrin' Superstition, Alas! there's ground o' great suspicion She'll ne'er get better. Auld Orthodoxy lang did grapple, See how she fetches at the thrapple, Enthusiasm's past redemption, Gaen in a galloping consumption, Her feeble pulse gies strong presumption Death soon will end her. 'Tis you and Taylor* are the chief An' twa red peats wad send relief, A DEDICATION TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ. EXPECT na, sir, in this narration, Then, when I'm tir'd and sae are ye, This may do maun do, sir, wi' them wha * Dr. Taylor, of Norwich |