 | Poems on several subjects |  |
A Letter to J--- B--- an old Batchelor, persuading him to marry.
In frosty weather sheets are cauld,
That gars folk closs together fauld.
In spite of ilka northern blast,
The heat of man and wife shall last.
That gars folk closs together fauld.
In spite of ilka northern blast,
The heat of man and wife shall last.
But single lads, like you and me,
Maun slide our sarks down o'er our knee;
And heat the tae foot wi' the other:
What can we do in winter weather?
Maun slide our sarks down o'er our knee;
And heat the tae foot wi' the other:
What can we do in winter weather?
But when the spring and summer comes,
When midges dance, and ev'-cloke bums,
The man and wife in bed grows warm;
The sweat and heat it does them harm.
When midges dance, and ev'-cloke bums,
The man and wife in bed grows warm;
The sweat and heat it does them harm.
So troth, my friend, I'm at a vary,
Whether to keep free, or marry.
Whether to keep free, or marry.
But yet I have devis'd a wile,
The heat of summer to beguile;
That is, to keep claes aff the bed,
Until the summer heat be fled:
And when the' autumnal cald comes in,
To hap the bed we'll then begin.
The heat of summer to beguile;
That is, to keep claes aff the bed,
Until the summer heat be fled:
And when the' autumnal cald comes in,
To hap the bed we'll then begin.
55
Sae gin I had as many years
As on your forehead now appears,
Some comely fair-one, wi' 'er enticements,
Would cause me cast off all advisements,
And fairly venture on the tie
Of marriage; purposely that I
Frae all reproaches should go free,
And wanton women's calumny.
As on your forehead now appears,
Some comely fair-one, wi' 'er enticements,
Would cause me cast off all advisements,
And fairly venture on the tie
Of marriage; purposely that I
Frae all reproaches should go free,
And wanton women's calumny.
For they will taunt, and jeer, and joke,
And ca' you capon, not a cock;
An auld young man that canna' love;
A silly fool, as chaste's a dove;
Row'd in the brottlet when first seen,
And chiefly lo'es his cog sinsyne.
With many such reproaches more,
Lasses gi' lads that they abhor.
And ca' you capon, not a cock;
An auld young man that canna' love;
A silly fool, as chaste's a dove;
Row'd in the brottlet when first seen,
And chiefly lo'es his cog sinsyne.
With many such reproaches more,
Lasses gi' lads that they abhor.
Sae take a heart, and learn to woo',
That lasses may speak well of you.
Brush up your beard, goose out each lirk,
And gi' some change to K---'s kirk.
Do as your father did, and strive
To keep the name of B---ce alive.
That lasses may speak well of you.
Brush up your beard, goose out each lirk,
And gi' some change to K---'s kirk.
Do as your father did, and strive
To keep the name of B---ce alive.
Sure there is great delight in wooing,
'Tis sic an ancient way of doing:
For since auld Adam first was made,
His bairns, till now, have us'd the trade.
'Tis sic an ancient way of doing:
For since auld Adam first was made,
His bairns, till now, have us'd the trade.
Therefore, my friend, I'd have you try
What pleasure's in't, and sae shall I.
Wedlock's a divine institution;
Sae let us, with one resolution,
Obey that sacred old comman',
That God in Paradise gave man.
Leave parents, friends, and a' your kin,
Some bonnie lassie's love to win;
And cleave to her for life to live;
That will your sunken sp'rits revive.
What pleasure's in't, and sae shall I.
Wedlock's a divine institution;
Sae let us, with one resolution,
Obey that sacred old comman',
That God in Paradise gave man.
Leave parents, friends, and a' your kin,
Some bonnie lassie's love to win;
And cleave to her for life to live;
That will your sunken sp'rits revive.
Farewell, my friend; gin ye be wise,
You winna' slight my young advice.
I own indeed, it is but bruckle,
Yet gi'en in love. Your's, Sandy Nicol.
You winna' slight my young advice.
56
Yet gi'en in love. Your's, Sandy Nicol.
| Poems on several subjects | |