Ajax his speech to the Grecian Knabbs, From Ovid's Metam. Lib. XIII Attempted in broad Buchans. To which are added, Journal to Portsmouth, And a Shop-Bill, In the same Dialect. With a Key. By Robert Forbes, Gent |
 |
A Shop BILL. |
 | Ajax his speech to the Grecian Knabbs, From Ovid's Metam. Lib. XIII |  |
37
A Shop BILL.
To ilka body be it kend,
Frae John A-groats to the land's end,
That frae this day I do intend,
some shanks to sell;
This is my bill, to you I send
that it may tell:
Frae John A-groats to the land's end,
That frae this day I do intend,
some shanks to sell;
This is my bill, to you I send
that it may tell:
That gin you chance for me to speer,
I'll fit you weel wi' doughty geer
That either knabbs or lairds may weer,
and ladies tee,
For ilka season i' the year,
as ye shall see.
I'll fit you weel wi' doughty geer
That either knabbs or lairds may weer,
and ladies tee,
For ilka season i' the year,
as ye shall see.
An' first o' hose I hae a fouth,
Some frae the North, some frae the South,
An' some o' our ain quintry grouth,
baith grae an' russet,
Wi' different clocks; bat yet in truth
we ca' it gushet.
Some frae the North, some frae the South,
An' some o' our ain quintry grouth,
baith grae an' russet,
Wi' different clocks; bat yet in truth
we ca' it gushet.
38
An' mair attour I'll tell you trow,
That a' the moggans are bra new,
Some worsted are o' different hue,
an' some are cotton,
That's safter far na' ony woo,
that grows on mutton.
That a' the moggans are bra new,
Some worsted are o' different hue,
an' some are cotton,
That's safter far na' ony woo,
that grows on mutton.
Bat gin some lads shou'd stand in need,
Of shanks that are for simmer weed,
I'll fit them wi' the best o' threed,
or white or brown,
That may well sair the gentlest bleed
in a' the town.
Of shanks that are for simmer weed,
I'll fit them wi' the best o' threed,
or white or brown,
That may well sair the gentlest bleed
in a' the town.
The mucklest man he may be fitted
Wi' hose that's either wove or knitted,
An' gin he likes, he's get them litted,
or brown or black;
We'll gar him say, he's nae outwitted,
fan he comes back.
Wi' hose that's either wove or knitted,
An' gin he likes, he's get them litted,
or brown or black;
We'll gar him say, he's nae outwitted,
fan he comes back.
39
The porter, car-man, or servant lad,
That ca's the beast wi' fup or gad,
May come to me, fare may be had,
for their nain wear,
The starkest hose that can be made,
an' yet nae dear.
That ca's the beast wi' fup or gad,
May come to me, fare may be had,
for their nain wear,
The starkest hose that can be made,
an' yet nae dear.
Far wary-draggle, an' sharger elf,
I hae the gear upo' my skelf,
Will mak them soon lay down their pelf,
fan anes they see,
That they wi' ease can fit themselves,
an' deal wi' me.
I hae the gear upo' my skelf,
Will mak them soon lay down their pelf,
fan anes they see,
That they wi' ease can fit themselves,
an' deal wi' me.
Frae ladies to a servant wench,
I can well fit them every inch,
An' gin they're fley'd that they shou'd pinch,
I'll try them on;
Perhaps I may their greening stench,
'ere I hae done.
I can well fit them every inch,
An' gin they're fley'd that they shou'd pinch,
I'll try them on;
Perhaps I may their greening stench,
'ere I hae done.
40
Red, blue an' green, an' likewise pearl,
I hae to fit the little girl;
An' some for those that tak a tirle
amo' the sheets,
Wi' mony a bony tirly wirl
about the queets.
I hae to fit the little girl;
An' some for those that tak a tirle
amo' the sheets,
Wi' mony a bony tirly wirl
about the queets.
The ladies that do tak their pleasure,
An' wi' true travel win their treasure,
Gin that they hae sae muckle leisure
on me to call,
I'll fit exactly to their measure,
baith great an' small.
An' wi' true travel win their treasure,
Gin that they hae sae muckle leisure
on me to call,
I'll fit exactly to their measure,
baith great an' small.
Besides I'd hae you understand,
That I hae caps upo demand,
An' gloves likewise, to hap the hand
of fremt an' sib.
An' napkins, as guid's in a' the land,
to dight your nib.
That I hae caps upo demand,
An' gloves likewise, to hap the hand
of fremt an' sib.
An' napkins, as guid's in a' the land,
to dight your nib.
41
Now by my bill you plainly see,
That great an' sma can fitted be:
Come than flock flaught-bred unto me,
an' buy my shanks,
You may be sure that I will gi'
a warld o' thanks.
That great an' sma can fitted be:
Come than flock flaught-bred unto me,
an' buy my shanks,
You may be sure that I will gi'
a warld o' thanks.
I likewise tell you by this bill,
That I do live upo Tower-hill,
Hard by the house o' Robie Mill,
just i' the nuik,
Ye canna' miss't fan 'ere you will,
the sign's a buik.
That I do live upo Tower-hill,
Hard by the house o' Robie Mill,
just i' the nuik,
Ye canna' miss't fan 'ere you will,
the sign's a buik.
O si nunc juvenes et puellae
Wou'd flock in, like micantes stellae,
Tum mihi suavius erit melle,
fan, frae the thrang,
The clink that haps baith back an' belly,
I tell ding dang.
Wou'd flock in, like micantes stellae,
Tum mihi suavius erit melle,
fan, frae the thrang,
The clink that haps baith back an' belly,
I tell ding dang.
42
Sed denique, it is uncommon
To send a bill that mentions no man,
Ut finem huicce story ponam,
sit notum vobis,
Simmer an' winter, hoc est nomen,
To send a bill that mentions no man,
Ut finem huicce story ponam,
sit notum vobis,
Simmer an' winter, hoc est nomen,
I mean ROB. FORBES.
| Ajax his speech to the Grecian Knabbs, From Ovid's Metam. Lib. XIII | |