1780
ronalds of the bennals, the
in tarbolton, ye ken, there are proper young men,
and proper young sses and a', man;
but kehe ronalds that live in the bennals,
they carry the gree frae them a', man.
their father's ird, and weel he spare't,
braid moo tocher them a', man;
to proper young men, he'll k in the hand
gowd guineas a hunder or twa, man.
there's ahey ca' jean, i'll warrant ye've seen
as bonie a ss or as braw, man;
but for sense and guid taste she'll vie wi' the best,
and a duct that beautifies a', man.
the charms o' the min', the hey shine,
the mair admiration they draw, man;
while peaches and cherries, and roses and lilies,
they fade and they wither awa, man,
if ye be for miss jean, tak this frae a frien',
a hint o' a rival or twa, man;
the ird o' bckbyre wad gang through the fire,
if that wad entice her awa, man.
the ird o' braehead has been on his speed,
for mair than a towmond or twa, man;
the ird o' the ford will straught on a board,
if he a get her at a', man.
then anna es in, the pride o' her kin,
the boast of our bachelors a', man:
sae sonsy and sweet, sae fully plete,
she steals our affes awa, man.
if i should detail the pid the wale
o' sses that live here awa, man,
the fau't wad be mine if they didna shine
the sweetest a o' them a', man.
i lo'e her mysel, but dareell,
my poverty keeps me in awe, man;
for making o' rhymes, and w at times,
does little or hing at a', man.
yet i wadna choose to let her refuse,
nor hae't in her power to say na, man:
for though i be poor, unnoticed, obscure,
my stomach's as proud as them a', man.
though i a ride in weel-booted pride,
and flee o'er the hills like a craw, man,
i haud up my head wi' the best o' the breed,
though fluttering ever so braw, man.
my coat and my vest, they are scotch o' the best,
o'pairs o' guid breeks i hae twa, man;
and stogs and pumps to put on my stumps,
and ne'er a wrang steek in them a', man.
my sarks they are few, but five o' them new,
twal' hundred, as white as the snaw, man,
a ten-shillings hat, a holnd cravat;
there are no mony poets sae braw, man.
i never had frien's weel stockit in means,
to leave me a hundred or twa, man;
nae weel-tocher'd aunts, to wait on their drants,
and wish them in hell for it a', man.
i never was ie for h o' money,
htin't together at a', man;
i've little to spend, and hing to lend,
but deevil a shilling i awe, man.