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The works of Allan Ramsay

edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law]

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THE BROAD HINT CUNNINGLY ANSWERD
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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THE BROAD HINT CUNNINGLY ANSWERD

In ripened years, when Blood flows cool,
then mankind cease to play the fool,
grow very cautious, grave, & wise.
and prodigall of good advice,
the courses that themselves run throw,
they hardly to their Bairns allow.

294

Patricius for his merits known
which none who knew him would disown,
was now arriv'd to that same age
which can oppose love's fiercest rage,
tho in his youth, some would debate it,
he took a Rugg when he could get it,
He had a son, a hearty youth,
who lov'd to smack a pretty mouth,
the lad was lively, brisk, & keen,
not much to ceremony gi'en,
who thought, when nature was inviting,
one should not take too long entreating,
nor cavil much about her Laws
when one could show a good because,
Some maiden auld of envious nature,
or chaplain, sour malicious creature,
officiously had told the Laird
that his son John had no regard,
to Laws cannonicall or civell
but amongst Lasses playd the Devil,
Thought fornication was no sin,
and whored about throw' thick & thin,
unterified at claps & poxes,
Repenting-stools or the Kirk-Boxies.
One evening as the son & father
by a warm Ingle sat togither
where tired with Rambles of the Day
upon the hearth lay favourite Tray
to whom thus spoke by way of squint
the squire that son might take the hint:
Ye silly cur, what is't bewitches
you thus to galop after Bitches
the live-lang day oer Riggs & Bogs
fighting with all the wicked Dogs
wasting your strength for litle thanks
and getting riven spauls & shanks?”
John understood his father's drift
when luckylie to lend a lift

295

a little whelp of humour gay
woud fain have had some game with Tray
he pauted at his hinging luggs
and somtimes at his tail he druggs
which sport the auld & sullen Tike
by snaps & girns seem'd to dislike
John to the auld dog spoke, thus slee
get out ye cankerd curr cryd he,
your Eild & Sourness gar ye snarl
and with the wanton whelpie quarell
you have forgot—(your manners tell)
that you was anes a whelp your Sell.