The works of Allan Ramsay :: :: University of Virginia Library

I wairn ye a' to greet and drone,
John Cowper's dead, Ohon! Ohon!
To fill his Post, alake there's none,
That with sic Speed
Cou'd sa'r Sculdudry out like John,
But now he's dead.

He was right nacky in his Way,
And eydent baith be Night and Day,
He wi' the Lads his Part cou'd play,
When right sair fleed,
He gart them good Bill-siller pay,
But now he's dead.

Of Whore-hunting he gat his Fill,
And made be't mony Pint and Gill:
Of his braw Post he thought nae Ill,
Nor did nae need,
Now they may mak a Kirk and Mill
O't, since he's dead.

Altho he was nae Man of Weir,
Yet mony a ane, wi quaking Fear,
Durst scarce afore his Face appear,
But hide their Head;
The wylie Carl he gather'd Gear,
And yet he's dead.

Ay now to some Part far awa,
Alas he's gane and left it a'!
May be to some sad Whilliwhaw
O' fremit Blood,
'Tis an ill Wind that dis na blaw
Some Body good.

Fy upon Death, he was to blame
To whirle poor John to his lang Hame:
But tho his Arse be cauld, yet Fame,
Wi' Tout of Trumpet,
Shall tell how Cowper's awfou Name
Cou'd flie a Strumpet.

He kend the Bawds and Louns fou well,
And where they us'd to rant and reel,
He paukily on them cou'd steal,
And spoil their Sport;
Aft did they wish the muckle De'll
Might tak him for't.

But ne'er a ane of them he spar'd,
E'en tho there was a drunken Laird
To draw his Sword, and make a Faird
In their Defence,
John quietly put them in the Guard
To learn mair Sense.

There maun they ly till sober grown,
The Lad neist Day his Fault maun own;
And to keep a' Things hush and low'n,
He minds the Poor,
Syne after a' his Ready's flown,
He damns the Whore.

And she, poor Jade, withoutten Din,
Is sent to Leith-Wynd Fit to spin,
With heavy Heart and Cleathing thin,
And hungry Wame,
And ilky Month a well paid Skin,
To mak her tame.

But now they may scoure up and down,
And safely gang their Wakes arown,
Spreading the Clap throw a' the Town,
But Fear or Dread;
For that great Kow to Bawd and Lown,
John Cowper's dead.

Shame faw ye'r Chandler Chafts, O Death;
For stapping of John Cowper's Breath;
The Loss of him is publick Skaith:
I dare well say,
To quat the Grip he was right laith
This mony a Day.

POSTSCRIPT.

Of umquhile John to lie or bann,
Shaws but ill Will, and looks right shan,
But some tell odd Tales of the Man,
For Fifty Head
Can gi'e their Aith they've seen him gawn
Since he was dead.

Keek but up throw the Stinking Stile,
On Sunday Morning a wee While,
At the Kirk Door out frae an Isle,
It will appear;
But tak good Tent ye dinna file
Ye'r Breeks for Fear.

For well we wat it is his Ghaist,
Wow, wad some Fouk that can do't best
Speak till't, and hear what it confest;
'Tis a good Deed
To send a wand'ring Saul to rest
Amang the Dead.

'Tis necessary for the Illustration of this Elegy to Strangers to let them a little into the History of the Kirk-Treasurer and his Man; The Treasurer is chosen every Year, a Citizen respected for Riches and Honesty; he is vested with an absolute Power to seise and imprison the Girls that are too impatient to have on their green Gown before it be hem'd; them he strictly examines, but no Liberty to be granted till a fair Account be given of these Persons they have obliged. It must be so: A List is frequently given sometimes of a Dozen or thereby of married or unmarried unfair Traders whom they secretly assisted in running their Goods, these his Lordship makes pay to some purpose according to their Ability, for the Use of the Poor: If the Lads be obstreperous, the Kirk-Sessions, and worst of all, the Stool of Repentance is threatned, a Punishment which few of any Spirit can bear.

The Treasurer being changed every Year, never comes to be perfectly acquainted with the Affair; but their general Servant continuing for a long Time, is more expert at discovering such Persons, and the Places of their Resort, which makes him capable to do himself and Customers both a good or an ill Turn. John Cowper maintain'd this Post with Activity and good Success for several Years.

In Allusion to a scent Dog, Sa'r from Savour or Smell, Sculdudry a Name commonly given to whoring.

Bull-silver.

She saw the Cow well serv'd, and took a Groat.
Gay.

Whilliwha is a kind of insinuating deceitful Fellow, Fremit Blood, not a kin, because he had then no legitimate Heirs of his own Body.

A Bustle like a Bully.

Pays hush Money to the Treasurer.

The House of Correction at the Foot of Leith-Wynd, such as Bridewell in London.

Lean or meager Cheeked, when the Bones appear like the Sides or Corners of a Candlestick, which in Scots we call a Chandler.

The common People when they tell their Tales of Ghosts appearing, they say, he has been seen gawn or stalking.

Opposite to this Place is the Door of the Church which he attends, being a Beadle.

'Tis another vulgar Notion, that a Ghost will not be laid to rest, till some Priest speak to it, and get Account what disturbs it.