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 Version of the Sitting Member's
Address. |
 | Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |  |
222
Hughie's Version of the Sitting Member's Address.
Electors by the Norlan' Firth,
Your wisdom's equal to your wirth;
Ye chose me at a whip o' dearth
To represent ye!
I've ta'en a firmer grip i' yearth
Since first I kent ye.
Your wisdom's equal to your wirth;
Ye chose me at a whip o' dearth
To represent ye!
I've ta'en a firmer grip i' yearth
Since first I kent ye.
Wow! but this warld's a canty hole
Surveyed by him that heads a poll,
Wha's friends without a murmur thole
His capers mony,
An' crack him up till, like a coal,
He's bleezin' bonnie!
Surveyed by him that heads a poll,
Wha's friends without a murmur thole
His capers mony,
An' crack him up till, like a coal,
He's bleezin' bonnie!
223
What, what had I to win your favours
When Damheid, for my misbehavours,
Maist like an auld cask dung to stavers,
Despatched me rowin',
Wi' deil ha'et but a tongue an' slavers
To start anew on?
When Damheid, for my misbehavours,
Maist like an auld cask dung to stavers,
Despatched me rowin',
Wi' deil ha'et but a tongue an' slavers
To start anew on?
By this, I micht hae been forgotten,
My public reputation rotten,
Gien ower to eild and anecdotin';
Or, at the best,
Wi' handbag round the counties trottin'
In fruitless quest.
My public reputation rotten,
Gien ower to eild and anecdotin';
Or, at the best,
Wi' handbag round the counties trottin'
In fruitless quest.
While here I am, this braw November,
Lookin' again to be your Member,
Nae fossil auld, nor brunt-oot ember,
But het an' smokin';
Wi' promises—which, please remember,
May a' be broken!
Lookin' again to be your Member,
Nae fossil auld, nor brunt-oot ember,
But het an' smokin';
Wi' promises—which, please remember,
May a' be broken!
224
Nae doot it's feckly wrang to lee;
But then, lang-windit naigs like me
Maun rin baith hand an' helter free
As Nature teaches;
An', wantin' whids, whaur wad they be,
My bonnie speeches?
But then, lang-windit naigs like me
Maun rin baith hand an' helter free
As Nature teaches;
An', wantin' whids, whaur wad they be,
My bonnie speeches?
Whiddin's an airt: ye tak your aith;
Ye promise “that's as sure as death”;
Ye rap it oot to get a breath
Or hide a stammer;
A kind o' wild rhetoric wreath,
It decks your grammar!
Ye promise “that's as sure as death”;
Ye rap it oot to get a breath
Or hide a stammer;
A kind o' wild rhetoric wreath,
It decks your grammar!
I keep my promise when I can;
But, if I state, an' stick my plan,
What waur am I than ony man
That's changed his mind?
He's wiser noo than he was than,
An' that ye'll find.
But, if I state, an' stick my plan,
What waur am I than ony man
That's changed his mind?
He's wiser noo than he was than,
An' that ye'll find.
225
Sae dinna wonder nor repine,
Gude, far-aff, faithfu' friends o' mine,
If noo-an'-than I seem to tyne
Regaird for truth;
And oh! preserve the cordial twine
That binds us baith!
Gude, far-aff, faithfu' friends o' mine,
If noo-an'-than I seem to tyne
Regaird for truth;
And oh! preserve the cordial twine
That binds us baith!
| Horace in Homespun by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] | |