Noo Mirren's tae the burn tae sine her kirn,
Here Jeanie, waefu, sits an reels her pirn,
While honest Gaffer, ay for peace inclin'd,
Is haflins next, an freely speaks his mind.
Gaffer.
Thy mither's gair an set upon the warl,
Its Muirlan's gear that gars her like the carl,
But Nature bids thee spurn the silly tyke,
An wha woud wed wi ane they canna lyke ;
Just speak thy mind an tell him ance for a,
That auchteen neer can gree wi saxty-twa; [1]
A mair disgustin sicht I never knew,
Than youthfu folly neath auld grey pow.
Enter MIRREN blythely.
Mir. Here comes oor neibour hurryin frae the muir,
Mak a things snod, fey haste, redd up the flure ;
The like o him tae veesit you an me,
Reflects an honour on oor family ;
Noo lassie, min my hie command in this,
Whate'er Muirlan says, ye'll answer Yes.
Jean. Whatever Muirlan says ! it shall be so,
But sune as mornin comes I'll answer No. [Aside.
Enter MUIRLAN.
Muir. Peace to this biggin—he ! he ! he ! (Giggles.)
Hoo's a ?
Mir. Gaily, a-thank ye—William, come awa,
An tell us hoo ye fen this nicht yoursel ?
Muir. He ! he ! His name be praised !
feth, unco weel,
I ne'er was hauf sae strang in a my days;
I'm grown sae fat, I'm like tae burst my claise !
Nae wonner o't ! I'm just noo at my prime ;
I'm just noo five and thretty [2] come the time !
Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho ! (coughs) I pity them wha's auld !
Yestreen I catcht a wee bit croichle o cauld.
Gaf. (disgusted). I micht excuse a foolish, untaucht
bairn ;
But second childhood, sure will never learn. [Aside.
[Exit.
[1] The poet has apparently used his poetic licence in making the maid too young and the bachelor too old.—Ed.
[2] The poet, of course, makes the bachelor say he is younger than he is.—Ed