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251
ANSWER.
I'VE heard your sang about the Skunkie,
Wha play'd ye sic a filthy plunkie.
Now listen to me, while I tell
What in auld Scotland ance befell.
Wha play'd ye sic a filthy plunkie.
Now listen to me, while I tell
What in auld Scotland ance befell.
Near an auld bigging, in a bush,
There sat a solitary Thrush;
His breast wi' love o' sang was fill'd;
He to the waste his wild notes thrill'd;
For being seen he little car'd,
And wished still less for being heard;
To pass his lanesome hours away,
And please himsel', he turn'd his lay.
There sat a solitary Thrush;
His breast wi' love o' sang was fill'd;
He to the waste his wild notes thrill'd;
For being seen he little car'd,
And wished still less for being heard;
To pass his lanesome hours away,
And please himsel', he turn'd his lay.
In the auld bigging dwelt a Starling,
Wha was o' ilka bird the darling;
For well he kent to suit his throat
To please ilk bird wi' its ain note;
Sometimes like Sparrow he'd be seen,
Chirping, and hoping on the green;
Frae this he'd aften tak a start,
And carrol wi' the tunefu' lark;
And this again he'd change as soon—
He never staid land on ae tune;
But, 'fore your finger you cou'd crook,
You'd tak him for a Crow or Rook.
Wha was o' ilka bird the darling;
For well he kent to suit his throat
To please ilk bird wi' its ain note;
Sometimes like Sparrow he'd be seen,
Chirping, and hoping on the green;
Frae this he'd aften tak a start,
And carrol wi' the tunefu' lark;
And this again he'd change as soon—
He never staid land on ae tune;
But, 'fore your finger you cou'd crook,
You'd tak him for a Crow or Rook.
This Starling heard the Thrush's sang,
Sowth'd saftly the lane woods amang—
Heard and was pleased, and in a crack;
He gave the Thrush his musick back;
Indeed the Starling sung sae well
He did amaist the Thrush excel
Between the Thrush and Starling now
An unco cronyship up grew;
Ay, frae the bush, when Thrush wad rant
Starling wad frae the bigging chaunt.
Sowth'd saftly the lane woods amang—
Heard and was pleased, and in a crack;
He gave the Thrush his musick back;
Indeed the Starling sung sae well
He did amaist the Thrush excel
252
An unco cronyship up grew;
Ay, frae the bush, when Thrush wad rant
Starling wad frae the bigging chaunt.
Thus, 'tween them twa the time pass'don,
In friendship and in peacefu' sang,
Till ance upo' a luckless day,
A flight of Corbies came that way,
A revenous, and ill boding flock,
Wi' hungry, discontented croak,
Much it surpris'd the wand'ring Thrush,
As he sat singing in his bush,
To hear the Starling change his strain,
And croak wi' these vile birds obscene.
It vex'd the Thrush—He shook his wings,
And in a louder tone he sings,
Wi' deeper warbling swell'd his throat,
Thinking the starling would take note;
But a' in vain—Th' unthinking bird
O' his new freak wad not be cur'd,
But ay croak'd on, and aff he flew,
Wi' the black, clamourous, stinking crew;
And 'stead o' halesome seed o' herbage,
He fed on carrion and on garbage.
Him to reclaim the Thrush gave owre,
But did his Starling's loss deplore.
In friendship and in peacefu' sang,
Till ance upo' a luckless day,
A flight of Corbies came that way,
A revenous, and ill boding flock,
Wi' hungry, discontented croak,
Much it surpris'd the wand'ring Thrush,
As he sat singing in his bush,
To hear the Starling change his strain,
And croak wi' these vile birds obscene.
It vex'd the Thrush—He shook his wings,
And in a louder tone he sings,
Wi' deeper warbling swell'd his throat,
Thinking the starling would take note;
But a' in vain—Th' unthinking bird
O' his new freak wad not be cur'd,
But ay croak'd on, and aff he flew,
Wi' the black, clamourous, stinking crew;
And 'stead o' halesome seed o' herbage,
He fed on carrion and on garbage.
Him to reclaim the Thrush gave owre,
But did his Starling's loss deplore.
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