Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] A New Edition with Illustrations by A. S. Boyd |
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Hughie's Indignation at the Conduct of
the Absconding Elder. |
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| II. |
 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
136
Hughie's Indignation at the Conduct of the Absconding Elder.
“Mala soluta navis exit alite.”
—Car. v. 10.
—Car. v. 10.
He's aff the kintra at a spang!
He's on the sea—they've tint him!
The warst o' weather wi' him gang!
Gude weather bide ahint him!
O for a rattlin' bauld Scots blast
To follow an' owretak' him—
To screed his sails, an' break his mast,
An' grup his ship, an' shak' him.
He's on the sea—they've tint him!
The warst o' weather wi' him gang!
Gude weather bide ahint him!
O for a rattlin' bauld Scots blast
To follow an' owretak' him—
To screed his sails, an' break his mast,
An' grup his ship, an' shak' him.
Yet wha was less possessed wi' guile,
Or prayed wi' readier unction?
He brocht the sweetness o' a smile
To every public function.
There wasna ane had half the grace
Or graciousness o' Peter;
There wasna ane in a' the place
For the millennium meeter.
Or prayed wi' readier unction?
He brocht the sweetness o' a smile
To every public function.
139
Or graciousness o' Peter;
There wasna ane in a' the place
For the millennium meeter.
He's fairly aff, he's stown awa',
A wolf that wore a fleece, man!
He's cheated justice, jinkit law,
An' lauch'd at the policeman.
The mission fund, the parish rate,
He had the haill control o't;
The very pennies i' the plate—
He's skirtit wi' the whole o't!
A wolf that wore a fleece, man!
He's cheated justice, jinkit law,
An' lauch'd at the policeman.
The mission fund, the parish rate,
He had the haill control o't;
The very pennies i' the plate—
He's skirtit wi' the whole o't!
It's juist a year—it's no' a year,
I'm no' a hair the belder,
Since in the Session Chaumer here
We made him rulin' elder.
An' juist a month as Feursday fell
He gat the gold repeater,
That in a speech I made mysel'
We handit owre to Peter.
I'm no' a hair the belder,
Since in the Session Chaumer here
We made him rulin' elder.
An' juist a month as Feursday fell
He gat the gold repeater,
That in a speech I made mysel'
We handit owre to Peter.
140
A bonnie lever, capp'd an' jew'ld
Perth never saw the mak' o't,
An' wi' his character in goold
Engraven on the back o't.
He's aff! he's aff wi' a' the spoil,
Baith law and justice jinkit!
O for a wind o' winds the wale
To chase his ship an' sink it!
Perth never saw the mak' o't,
An' wi' his character in goold
Engraven on the back o't.
He's aff! he's aff wi' a' the spoil,
Baith law and justice jinkit!
O for a wind o' winds the wale
To chase his ship an' sink it!
To lift the water like a fleece
An' gie him sic a drookin',
Whaur on his growf he groans for grace
But canna pray for pukin'.
Then wash'd owre seas upon a spar,
Wi' seaweeds roun' the head o'm,
Let neither licht o' sun nor star
Shine down upon the greed o'm!
An' gie him sic a drookin',
Whaur on his growf he groans for grace
But canna pray for pukin'.
Then wash'd owre seas upon a spar,
Wi' seaweeds roun' the head o'm,
Let neither licht o' sun nor star
Shine down upon the greed o'm!
But let a shark fra oonderneath,
It's jaws wi' hunger tichtenin',
Soom round him, shawin' izzet teeth
At every flash o' lichtnin'!
Till in the end the angry waves
Transport him to a distance,
To herd wi' wolves an' sterve in caves,
An' fecht for an existence!
It's jaws wi' hunger tichtenin',
Soom round him, shawin' izzet teeth
At every flash o' lichtnin'!
141
Transport him to a distance,
To herd wi' wolves an' sterve in caves,
An' fecht for an existence!
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |