Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd |
 |
Hughie's Views on Soldiering. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
128
Hughie's Views on Soldiering.
“Nos proelia virginum
Sectis in juvenes unguibus acrium
Cantamus.”
—Car. i. 6.
Sectis in juvenes unguibus acrium
Cantamus.”
—Car. i. 6.
War's broken oot, an' the toon's wives are skirlin',
An' Jock maun awa' to the muster at Stirlin'.
An' Jock maun awa' to the muster at Stirlin'.
A douce lad, Jock, when he lived wi' 's here,
Stappin' aboot in his plooman's gear,
An' whustlin' blithe on his native braes—
But a deevil for fechtin' in scarlet claes!
Stappin' aboot in his plooman's gear,
An' whustlin' blithe on his native braes—
But a deevil for fechtin' in scarlet claes!
Nae doot he's braw wi' his sabretache
White gloves, steel sword, an' a stiff mustache,
An' lang strippit-breeks—faith, a strappin' chiel,
Wi' a silver spur like a star at his heel!
White gloves, steel sword, an' a stiff mustache,
An' lang strippit-breeks—faith, a strappin' chiel,
Wi' a silver spur like a star at his heel!
131
But I'm no' at hame in the haunts o' weir,
Wi' its gibbles strange, an' its gibberish queer,
Wi' its “limber” here, an' “echelong” there,
Its “parks” an' “parades,” an' kens what mair.
Wi' its gibbles strange, an' its gibberish queer,
Wi' its “limber” here, an' “echelong” there,
Its “parks” an' “parades,” an' kens what mair.
I'd like very weel to descrive it a'
For the sake o' Jock, for he looks sae braw,
But I micht gang wrang in a form or a phrase,
An' earn Jock's wrath for the rest o' my days.
For the sake o' Jock, for he looks sae braw,
But I micht gang wrang in a form or a phrase,
An' earn Jock's wrath for the rest o' my days.
The soger-boys are a sicht to see,
But their style o' fechtin' 's no' for me—
Wi' their blawin' ye up, an' their ca'in' ye roun',
An' their stickin' ye dead when they get ye doun!
But their style o' fechtin' 's no' for me—
Wi' their blawin' ye up, an' their ca'in' ye roun',
An' their stickin' ye dead when they get ye doun!
The only fechtin' I care aboot
Is when a Meg wi' her jo fa's oot:
She lowses upon him a tinkler jaw
An' rugs his hair; an' he bears it a';
An' it's a' made up in an 'oor or twa!
Is when a Meg wi' her jo fa's oot:
She lowses upon him a tinkler jaw
An' rugs his hair; an' he bears it a';
An' it's a' made up in an 'oor or twa!
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |