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ANSWER TO AQUA VITÆ.
FAIR fa'ye, canty Aqua Vitæ,
Indeed ye've gi'en's a dainty ditty,
Just like yoursel, sae blythe and witty,
It does me guid;
I need nae fash to try to beat ye,
I'd nae succeed.
Indeed ye've gi'en's a dainty ditty,
Just like yoursel, sae blythe and witty,
It does me guid;
I need nae fash to try to beat ye,
I'd nae succeed.
But I maun tell ye, my auld chiel,
I'm nane o' thae wha play'd the deil,
And lowpt and jumpt out o' a' reel,
And brak the law;
And gar't the public ship to heel,
Wi' their fraca'.
I'm nane o' thae wha play'd the deil,
And lowpt and jumpt out o' a' reel,
And brak the law;
And gar't the public ship to heel,
Wi' their fraca'.
I am nae ty'd to Kirk or Session,
Nor do I aften tak a blessing,
Or listen to a sp'ritual lesson
Frae --- ---;
To credit a' his kittle guessing,
I'm nae quite willing.
Nor do I aften tak a blessing,
Or listen to a sp'ritual lesson
Frae --- ---;
To credit a' his kittle guessing,
I'm nae quite willing.
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I'm nane o' thae wha say lang graces,
And thraw their looks into grimaces,
Thinking wi' sad and frightfu' faces
To scare the Deil;
I like o'er well to kiss the lasses;
And lilt a reel.
And thraw their looks into grimaces,
Thinking wi' sad and frightfu' faces
To scare the Deil;
I like o'er well to kiss the lasses;
And lilt a reel.
Whene'er wi' ye I tak' a bout,
I dinna sit and drink and jout
In some bye place or chimney nuik,
As I've seen some;
Wha think their names down in life's buik,
As sure's a gun.
I dinna sit and drink and jout
In some bye place or chimney nuik,
As I've seen some;
Wha think their names down in life's buik,
As sure's a gun.
I bauldly ca' for t'ither glass,
And sit as long's I hae ony cash;
And shou'd some rude ill-manner'd hash
Begin a brattle,
I am nea laith his banes to thrash,
And stap his thrapple.
And sit as long's I hae ony cash;
And shou'd some rude ill-manner'd hash
Begin a brattle,
I am nea laith his banes to thrash,
And stap his thrapple.
As there be some wha tell foul clashes,
And say my kintry folks are fashious,
And tak sair threat'ning and lashes
To keep in order;
Like Scottish louns wha ware s' audaci'ous
Upo' the border:
And say my kintry folks are fashious,
And tak sair threat'ning and lashes
To keep in order;
Like Scottish louns wha ware s' audaci'ous
Upo' the border:
I often wish when in my mirth,
My guitcher ne'er had crost the Frith,
That rows its flood between the earth,
O' the twa islands;
Ware that the case, I'd had my birth,
I' the Scots Highlands.—
My guitcher ne'er had crost the Frith,
That rows its flood between the earth,
O' the twa islands;
Ware that the case, I'd had my birth,
I' the Scots Highlands.—
Ye ken fu' well that Scottish chiels
Are nane o' thae' wanrestfu' deils,
Wha' wish to keep the warld on wheels
Aye turnan round;
And maun be aft laid by the heels
To keep 'em down.
Are nane o' thae' wanrestfu' deils,
Wha' wish to keep the warld on wheels
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And maun be aft laid by the heels
To keep 'em down.
They sit like honest sonsy fouks,
And dously turn their caps and stoups,
And dinna aften budge th'er dowps
To make a brulzie;
But ance they fairly tak the tows,
Faith! they can tulzie.
And dously turn their caps and stoups,
And dinna aften budge th'er dowps
To make a brulzie;
But ance they fairly tak the tows,
Faith! they can tulzie.
Ye spake o' Burns, Nature's ain bairn,
Wha rous'd ye aft in merry vein—
Saftly, indeed, flow'd his sweet strain,
And stopt o'er soon;
We'll never see his maik again—
My tears hap down.
Wha rous'd ye aft in merry vein—
Saftly, indeed, flow'd his sweet strain,
And stopt o'er soon;
We'll never see his maik again—
My tears hap down.
But I've a hantle mair to say,
Which I may tell anither day;
Now, I maun rin and shak the strae,
Whare I've been thressing:—
Farewell! winsome Aqua Vitæ!
I gie ye my blessing.
Which I may tell anither day;
Now, I maun rin and shak the strae,
Whare I've been thressing:—
Farewell! winsome Aqua Vitæ!
I gie ye my blessing.
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