Poems on several subjects

And for my land, I'm very sure,
By the one half 'tis not sae poor;
Yet 'tis not free of skaith:
For neighbours that ly round about it,
Have par'd it sait awa';
It is sae little that I doubt it,
That 'tis not right at a':
If ye then, to me then,
Would tell what should be o't,
Wi' pleasure, I'd measure't,
And see if 'tis right or not.

But the main thing I mostly want,
Is what, Sir, you can easy grant,
And I'm no right without it;
That's summer-pasture for my cow,
The whilk, Sir, if I get frae you,
I'll pay't, you need not doubt it.
Near by me, Sir, you know you have
Some rigs to others set;
Some part thereof is what I crave,
For payment I may get:
'Twould please me, and ease me
Of much difficulty:
Sir, grant it, I want it,
And beg it earnestly.

As for my house, 'tis shame to see't,
And I am almost herried wi't,
'Tis war than a sheep-cot:
The windows give but little light,
Without a broad to shut at night,
To keep rough weather out;
The roof's sae bad, when rain dings on,
It draps through ev'ry place;
And for the space of six years gone,
Sir, this has been my case:
I find then, the wind then,
And rain dings out my light;
Believe me, it grieves me,
I'm aft a weary wight.

130

And I maun tell you what I think,
Though I had a' the meat and drink
You hae about Kirkhill,
And had nae other lodging-place,
Except the school-house of Collace,
It would be mis'ry still:
But your allowance, Sir, I doubt,
Has gone some other way;
What you bestow'd to make it out
Has been to knaves a prey;
And those men you chose, then,
To see the work well done,
Made slight things for right things,
And yet the price all one.

It is dependents' comfort sure,
When landlords do for them procure
Things necessary right:
And honours also doth accrue
To kind superiors as due,
And puts all grudge to flight.
I witness can and testify,
How gen'rously you did
Things of like nature rectify,
Where you concernment had;
And I can't deny but
That I was satisfied;
Which made me, to speed me,
Here in you to confide.

By these among whom I have been,
I'm bragg'd when they my house have seen;
They tell me to my face,
We thought Sir William would have giv'n
You something like a little heav'n
To live in at Collace:
We see your house is ten times worse,
Than what it was before;
'Tis neither fit for cow nor horse,
Butt window, roof, or door.

131

But I then, reply them,
Sir William knows it not,
Else he unto me would
Some better things allot.

But if I had things neighbour-like,
I with a kind of airy fyke,
Would brag them ane and a';
And on the matter look right vain,
And briskly show them but and ben,
My house just like an ha',
My yard, my barn, and my byre,
And little glebe of land,
And summer-pasture, though for hyre,
All under your own hand:
I'd then, Sir, maintain, Sir,
Your generosity,
No dominie that common be,
In better case than me.

My poor petition now you see:
And if you please to grant it me,
I would be well content;
If not, I'll seek some other place,
Though loth to leave you and Collace,
Sae lang as life's me lent:
For many years experience,
Your friendship I can boast;
And yet in you have confidence,
The same will not be lost.
If you, then, would bow then,
And grant me my request;
The favour would ever
Make me to wish you blest.

ALEX. NICOL.

University of Virginia Library

The PETITION of Alexander Nicol. Schoolmaster at Collace, to the Honourable Sir William Nairn of Dunsinnan Baronet.