 | The Poems of Robert Fergusson |  |
151
To R. FERGUSSON.
Deed
R. I e'en man dip my pen,
But how to write I dinna ken;
For learning, I got fint a grain,
To tell me how
To write to ony gentleman,
Sic like as you.
But how to write I dinna ken;
For learning, I got fint a grain,
To tell me how
To write to ony gentleman,
Sic like as you.
How blyth am I whan I do see
A piece o' your fine poetrie,
It gars me laugh fou merrilie,
Because there's nane
That gies sic great insight to me,
As your's itlane.
A piece o' your fine poetrie,
It gars me laugh fou merrilie,
Because there's nane
That gies sic great insight to me,
As your's itlane.
Trouth, Fergusson, I'm verry shier,
(Therefore I think I need na spier)
That ye dwalt anes abien the mier.
For ye do crack
The very sam way we do here
At Amond back.
(Therefore I think I need na spier)
That ye dwalt anes abien the mier.
For ye do crack
The very sam way we do here
At Amond back.
Ye've English plain enough nae doubt,
And Latin too, but ye do suit
Your lines, to fock that's out about
'Mang hills and braes:
This is the thing that gars me shout
Sae loud your praise.
And Latin too, but ye do suit
Your lines, to fock that's out about
'Mang hills and braes:
This is the thing that gars me shout
Sae loud your praise.
Gin ever ye come here awa',
I hope ye'll be sae gude as ca'
For Andrew Gray, at Whistle-ha,
The riddle macker,
About a riglength frae Coolsa,
Just o'er the water.
I hope ye'll be sae gude as ca'
For Andrew Gray, at Whistle-ha,
The riddle macker,
About a riglength frae Coolsa,
Just o'er the water.
152
We's treat ye, lad, for doing sae weel,
Wi' bannocks o' guid barley meal,
And wi' as mony Cabbage kail
As ye can tak:
And twa three chappins o' guid ale,
To gar ye crack.
Wi' bannocks o' guid barley meal,
And wi' as mony Cabbage kail
As ye can tak:
And twa three chappins o' guid ale,
To gar ye crack.
Whan this ye see, tak up your pen
And write word back to me again:
And fou you are, mind lat me ken
Without delay;
To hear ye're weel, I'll be right fain;
Your's, Andrew Gray.
And write word back to me again:
And fou you are, mind lat me ken
Without delay;
To hear ye're weel, I'll be right fain;
Your's, Andrew Gray.
Whistle-ha', June 1st, 1773.
| The Poems of Robert Fergusson | |