The Inventory（1 / 2）

the inventory 注释标题 the “inventory” was addressed to mr. aitken of ayr, surveyor of taxes for the district.

in answer to a mandate by the surveyor of the taxes

sir, as your mandate did request,

i send you here a faithfu' list,

o' gudes an' gear, an' a' my graith,

to which i'm clear to gi'e my aith.

imprimis, then, for carriage cattle,

i hae four brutes o' gallant mettle,

as ever drew afore a pettle.

my hand-afore 's a guid auld has-been,

an' wight an' wilfu' a' his days been:

my hand-ahin 's a weel gaun fillie,

that aft has borne me hame frae killie.

an' your auld borough mony a time

in days when riding was nae crime.

but ance, when in my wooing pride

i, like a blockhead, boost to ride,

the wilfu' creature sae i pat to,

(lord pardon a' my sins, an' that too!)

i play'd my fillie sic a shavie,

she's a' bedevil'd wi' the spavie.

my furr-ahin 's a wordy beast,

as e'er in tug or tow was traced.

the fourth's a highland donald hastle,

a damn'd red-wud kilburnie blastie!

foreby a cowt, o' cowts the wale,

as ever ran afore a tail:

gin he be spar'd to be a beast,

he'll draw me fifteen pund at least.

wheel-carriages i ha'e but few,

three carts, an' twa are feckly new;

an auld wheelbarrow, mair for token,

ae leg an' baith the trams are broken;

i made a poker o' the spin'le,

an' my auld mither brunt the trin'le.

for men, i've three mischievous boys,

run-deils for ranting an' for noise;

a gaudsman ane, a thrasher t' other:

wee davock hauds the nowt in fother.

i rule them as i ought, discreetly,