 | Poems on several subjects |  |
An Epistle to a Friend newly married, against the will of his Wife's Friends.
Kind Friend,
Dear, kind, and loving comerade,
I'm sure, as e'er a body had;
And gin the warld shou'd a, gae mad,
I'll ay say that
Thou art a well-deserving lad,
Fu' well I wat.
I'm sure, as e'er a body had;
And gin the warld shou'd a, gae mad,
I'll ay say that
Thou art a well-deserving lad,
Fu' well I wat.
But, honest auld acquaintance, now
There is a change on me and you;
And clashes pass'd, and that nae few,
Upon us baith:
But Heaven will gi' them their due
That wish our skaith.
There is a change on me and you;
And clashes pass'd, and that nae few,
Upon us baith:
But Heaven will gi' them their due
That wish our skaith.
The rising hills, and valleys wide,
Our company they now divide;
Besides a' that, you've gotten a bride
To kiss and clap:
I wish naething but good betide,
Or be your hap.
Our company they now divide;
Besides a' that, you've gotten a bride
To kiss and clap:
I wish naething but good betide,
Or be your hap.
Your match is nane aboon your thumb,
Though a'her kin shou'd glour and gloum,
And swell wi' ire, until their bum
Like thunder roar;
She's your equal now in time to come,
As well's before.
Though a'her kin shou'd glour and gloum,
And swell wi' ire, until their bum
Like thunder roar;
She's your equal now in time to come,
As well's before.
60
Sae live contentedly together,
In mutual love to one another;
And value neither friend nor brother
But do your best:
Kind Providence, which brought you hither,
Makes out the rest.
In mutual love to one another;
And value neither friend nor brother
But do your best:
Kind Providence, which brought you hither,
Makes out the rest.
Let ilka tattling ill bred block,
Frae house to house still keep a troak
Daily, of lies to loose the pock;
Sae poor's their post,
They'll rin the risk Heav'n to provoke,
And damn their ghost.
Frae house to house still keep a troak
Daily, of lies to loose the pock;
Sae poor's their post,
They'll rin the risk Heav'n to provoke,
And damn their ghost.
Sae never mind that graceless crew,
That speaks nae good but of a few;
For what they say is seldom true,
Or for good ends:
Of a' our wrangs we may na' now
Hope for a mends.
That speaks nae good but of a few;
For what they say is seldom true,
Or for good ends:
Of a' our wrangs we may na' now
Hope for a mends.
Take up a heart, and fear nae loss;
Be blithe, and laugh at ilka cross;
Fate will your enemies oppose;
You need na' dread
The least affront frae a' your foes;
Peace will succeed.
Be blithe, and laugh at ilka cross;
Fate will your enemies oppose;
You need na' dread
The least affront frae a' your foes;
Peace will succeed.
May a' the charms of love and youth,
And a' the fruits of peace and truth,
With heavenly blessings in a fouth,
Show'r on your pate;
May you a Boaz, and she a Ruth,
Still imitate.
And a' the fruits of peace and truth,
With heavenly blessings in a fouth,
Show'r on your pate;
May you a Boaz, and she a Ruth,
Still imitate.
Farewell.
| Poems on several subjects | |