Than ours they're nane mair fat and fair, Gin heaven shou'd gie the earth a drink, Gin ye war here, I'm sure you'd think It worth your notice, To see them dubbs and gutters jink Wi' kiltit coaties. And frae ilk corner o' the nation,1 That at close-mou's tak' up their station The Lord deliver frae temptation A' honest fock! Thir queans are ay upo' the catch Ye canna eithly meet their match "Tween you and me. For this gude sample o' your skill, I'm restin you a pint o' yale, By and attour a Highland gill Of aquavitæ ; The which to come and sock at will, I here invite ye. Tho' jillet Fortune scoul and quarrel, 1 See " Auld Reekie," Near some lamp post, wi' dowy face,' &c. As lang's I've two-pence i' the warl', To part a fadge or girdle farl Wi' Louthian Jockie. Farewell, my cock! Lang may you thrive, Weel happit in a cozy hive; And that your soul may never dive To Acheron, I'll wish as lang's I can subscrive ROB. FERGUSSON. BRAID CLAITH. [The poem of 'Braid Claith' expresses no doubt the touching experiences of the poet himself, as certainly it does of many similarly situated, who, conscious of genius, have nevertheless to endure, simply because they are "far in the shade, where poverty retires," "The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, That patient merit of the unworthy takes." HAMLET, Act III. Sc. 1. But Fergusson, as a poet, might have comforted himself out of his favourite Gay, "The Muses, contrary to all other Ladies, pay no distinction to dress, and never partially mistake the pertness of embroidery for wit, or the modesty of want for dulness."-The Beggar's Opera. Player in Introduction. Still, "hard is the poor poet's lot," for indeed the words of the same author are most true: If chance he mingles in the female crowd Pride tosses high her head, scorn laughs alond And wonders at the impudence of want. с How we admire the poor philosopher who in such circumstances said, "When a stranger treats me with want of respect, I console myself with the reflection that it is not myself that he slights but my old and shabby coat and shabby hat, which, to say truth, have no particular claim to adoration. So if my hat and coat choose to fret about it, let them: but it is nothing to me."] YE wha are fain to hae your name To laurel'd wreath, But hap ye weel, baith back and wame, He1 that some ells o' this may fa',2 An' slae black hat on pow like snaw, 1 Var. they. 2 This line elucidates an expression in Burns which is somewhat obscure, if left unexplained, as it is in all editions. He that some ells o' this may fa', signifies that happens to possess or simply, possess. In Burns' noble song there is the following stanza: A king can mak' a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might, Gude faith, he mauna fa that. Referring to the royal power to make marquis, duke, etc. Burns goes on to say-it should not be for the good of mankind did he possess the power of making an 'honest man.' No, exclaims he, 'Gude faith, he mauna fa' [possess] that' [power.]-Communicated by Mr. Robert Burns, Secundus. In Wood's Songs of Scotland (Vol. I. Appendix p. 167) the following explanation is given: "The meaning of the expression, 'he mauna fa' that,' is obscure. Jamieson's Dictionary does not explain the phrase, though the line is given. In common glossaries to Burns, the word 'fa' is explained by fall, lot. Neither of these would make sense in Burns' line. Try, attempt, venture, is evidently the only satisfactory meaning of 'fa' in that place. The expression occurs long before Burns' poetizing days, in the old song beginning, Tho' Geordie reigns in James's stead.' See the second volume of Ritson's Scottish Songs,' p. 104. "The whigs think a' that weal is won, or as Hogg, in the But faith they ma' na' fa' that;" second series of his Jacobite Relics, p. 56, gives it, Here the phrase is equally obscure as in Burns' song: but the meaning seems to be, they must not venture to believe.' 'maunna fa' that.' Bids bauld to bear the gree awa', Whan bienly clad wi' shell fu' braw Waesuck for him wha has nae fek o't! While he draws breath, Till his four quarters are bedeckit Wi' gude Braid Claith. On Sabbath-days the barber spark, Gangs trigly, faith! Or to the Meadows1 or the Park,2 In gude Braid Claith. Weel might ye trow, to see them there, Wud be right laith, Whan pacing wi' a gawsy air In gude Braid Claith. If ony mettled stirrah grien For favour frae a lady's ein, Mr. Burns' explanation removes this only satisfactory meaning' in the place cited. However, 'venture, attempt,' are meanings, as in Beat tie to Ross: "We norlands manna fa', To eat sae nice and gang sae bra'," &c. 1 A public-walk or promenade to the south of Edinburgh. There appeared in the Weekly Magazine, Vols. xix. p. 237: and xxiv. p. 78, two highly humorous accounts of the then visitors to the Meadows.' 2 The Queen's Park, another well-known promenade. He mauna care for being seen Before he sheath His body in a scabbard clean O' gude Braid Claith. For, gin he come wi' coat threed-bare, An' scald him baith. Wooers shou'd ay their travel spare Braid Claith lends fouk an unco heese, For little skaith: In short, you may be what you please For thof ye had as wise a snout on, Till they cou'd see ye wi' a suit on O' gude Braid Claith. 1 1 Now, if ye're ane o' warld's folk, Wi' bitter sneer, Wi' you no friendship will I troke, Burns to Kennedy, 1785. |