Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 547. Verses to Collector Mitchell |
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| FRIEND of the Poet, tried and leal, | |
| Wha, wanting thee, might beg or steal; | |
| Alake, alake, the meikle deil | |
| Wi’ a’ his witches | |
| Are at it skelpin jig and reel, | 5 |
| In my poor pouches? | |
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| I modestly fu’ fain wad hint it, | |
| That One-pound-one, I sairly want it; | |
| If wi’ the hizzie down ye sent it, | |
| It would be kind; | 10 |
| And while my heart wi’ life-blood dunted, | |
| I’d bear’t in mind. | |
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| So may the Auld year gang out moanin’ | |
| To see the New come laden, groanin’, | |
| Wi’ double plenty o’er the loanin’, | 15 |
| To thee and thine: | |
| Domestic peace and comforts crownin’ | |
| The hale design. | |
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POSTSCRIPT
Ye’ve heard this while how I’ve been lickit, | |
| And by fell Death was nearly nickit; | 20 |
| Grim loon! he got me by the fecket, | |
| And sair me sheuk; | |
| But by gude luck I lap a wicket, | |
| And turn’d a neuk. | |
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| But by that health, I’ve got a share o’t, | 25 |
| But by that life, I’m promis’d mair o’t, | |
| My hale and wee, I’ll tak a care o’t, | |
| A tentier way; | |
| Then farewell folly, hide and hair o’t, | |
| For ance and aye! | 30 |
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