Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner（2 / 2）

his worthy fam'ly far and near,

god bless them a' wi' grace and gear!

my auld schoolfellow, preacher willie,

the manly tar, my mason-billie,

and auchenbay, i wish him joy,

if he's a parent, lass or boy,

may he be dad, and meg the mither,

just five-and-forty years thegither!

and no forgetting wabster charlie,

i'm tauld he offers very fairly.

an' lord, remember singing sannock,

wi' hale breeks, saxpence, an' a bannock!

and next, my auld acquaintance, nancy,

since she is fitted to her fancy,

an' her kind stars hae airted till her

ga guid chiel wi' a pickle siller.

my kindest, best respects, i sen' it,

to cousin kate, an' sister janet:

tell them, frae me, wi' chiels be cautious,

for, faith, they'll aiblins fin' them fashious;

to grant a heart is fairly civil,

but to grant a maidenhead's the devil.

an' lastly, jamie, for yoursel,

may guardian angels tak a spell,

an' steer you seven miles south o' hell:

but first, before you see heaven's glory,

may ye get mony a merry story,

mony a laugh, and mony a drink,

and aye eneugh o' needfu' clink.

now fare ye weel, an' joy be wi' you:

for my sake, this i beg it o' you,

assist poor simson a' ye can,

ye'll fin; him just an honest man;

sae i conclude, and quat my chanter,

your's, saint or sinner,

rob the ranter.