third epistle to j. lapraik

    guid speed and furder to you, johnie,

    guid health, hale han's, an' weather bonie;

    now, when ye're nickin down fu' cannie

    the staff o' bread,

    may ye ne'er want a stoup o' bran'y

    to clear your head.

    may boreas never thresh your rigs,

    nor kick your rickles aff their legs,

    sendin the stuff o'er muirs an' haggs

    like drivin wrack;

    but may the tapmost grain that wags

    come to the sack.

    i'm bizzie, too, an' skelpin at it,

    but bitter, daudin showers hae wat it;

    sae my auld stumpie pen i gat it

    wi' muckle wark,

    an' took my jocteleg an whatt it,

    like ony clark.

    it's now twa month that i'm your debtor,

    for your braw, nameless, dateless letter,

    abusin me for harsh ill-nature

    on holy men,

    while deil a hair yoursel' ye're better,

    but mair profane.

    but let the kirk-folk ring their bells,

    let's sing about our noble sel's:

    we'll cry nae jads frae heathen hills

    to help, or roose us;

    but browster wives an' whisky stills,

    they are the muses.

    your friendship, sir, i winna quat it,

    an' if ye mak' objections at it,

    then hand in neive some day we'll knot it,

    an' witness take,

    an' when wi' usquabae we've wat it

    it winna break.

    but if the beast an' branks be spar'd

    till kye be gaun without the herd,

    and a' the vittel in the yard,

    an' theekit right,

    i mean your ingle-side to guard

    ae winter night.

    then muse-inspirin' aqua-vitae

    shall make us baith sae blythe and witty,

    till ye forget ye're auld an' gatty,

    an' be as canty

    as ye were nine years less than thretty—

    sweet ane an' twenty!

    but stooks are cowpit wi' the blast,

    and now the sinn keeks in the west,

    then i maun rin amang the rest,

    an' quat my chanter;

    sae i subscribe myself' in haste,

    yours, rab the ranter.