The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd Centenary Edition. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Thomas Thomson ... Poems and Life. With Many Illustrative Engravings [by James Hogg] |
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
285
Honest Duncan.
Now wha is yon comes o'er the knowe,
Sae stalwart an' sae brawny?
His hurchin beard, an' towzy pow,
Bespeak some Highland Sawney.
We'll hurt his spirit if we can,
Wi' taunt or jibe uncivil;
Before I saw a Highlandman,
I'd rather see the devil.
Sae stalwart an' sae brawny?
His hurchin beard, an' towzy pow,
Bespeak some Highland Sawney.
We'll hurt his spirit if we can,
Wi' taunt or jibe uncivil;
Before I saw a Highlandman,
I'd rather see the devil.
“Now wha are ye wi' tartan trews?
Or where hae ye been reaving?
Nae doubt to cleed your naked houghs
In England ye've been thieving.”
“She no pe heed ou, shentlemen,
Te whisky mak you trunken;
But, when I'm in the Athol glen,
Te ca' me 'onest Duncan.”
Or where hae ye been reaving?
Nae doubt to cleed your naked houghs
In England ye've been thieving.”
“She no pe heed ou, shentlemen,
Te whisky mak you trunken;
But, when I'm in the Athol glen,
Te ca' me 'onest Duncan.”
“An honest man in Athol glen!
We fear there's ne'er anither.
Nae wonder ye're sae lank an' lean,
Where a' are knaves thegither.”
“Hu, shay, Cot tamn, say tat akain!
Of her you might pe speakin';
But try misca' my countrymen,
I'll smash you like a breaken.”
We fear there's ne'er anither.
Nae wonder ye're sae lank an' lean,
Where a' are knaves thegither.”
“Hu, shay, Cot tamn, say tat akain!
Of her you might pe speakin';
But try misca' my countrymen,
I'll smash you like a breaken.”
From words the blows began to pass,
Stout Duncan sair laid on 'em;
At length he tumbled on the grass,
Wi' a' his faes aboon him.
But soon he rais'd his dusty brow,
An' bellow'd aiths right awfu';
Then whippit out a lang skein-dhu,
An' threaten'd things unlawfu'.
Stout Duncan sair laid on 'em;
At length he tumbled on the grass,
Wi' a' his faes aboon him.
But soon he rais'd his dusty brow,
An' bellow'd aiths right awfu';
Then whippit out a lang skein-dhu,
An' threaten'd things unlawfu'.
Then he ran here, an' he ran there,
The Highland durk sae fley'd 'em;
But Duncan chas'd, wi' hurdies bare,
An' ane by ane repaid 'em.
His Highland durk, an' heavy licks,
Soon taught them wha they strove wi';
An' he brought part o' a' their breeks
To Scotland for a trophy.
The Highland durk sae fley'd 'em;
But Duncan chas'd, wi' hurdies bare,
An' ane by ane repaid 'em.
His Highland durk, an' heavy licks,
Soon taught them wha they strove wi';
An' he brought part o' a' their breeks
To Scotland for a trophy.
“Now, you at nakit doups may laugh,
An' ye'll get some to join ye;
But troth you no maun cang to scaff
At tough auld Caledony.
Pe mony lad in Athol glen
Will join you like a brither;
But should you laugh at Highlandmen,
She a' tak low thegither.”
An' ye'll get some to join ye;
But troth you no maun cang to scaff
At tough auld Caledony.
Pe mony lad in Athol glen
Will join you like a brither;
But should you laugh at Highlandmen,
She a' tak low thegither.”
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |