The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill With biography, illustrations, and music |
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SUMMONS TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE BURNS ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY. |
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 | The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill |  |
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SUMMONS TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE BURNS ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY.
To WILLIAM M'LAREN.
1805.
King Geordie issues out his summons,
To ca' his bairns, the Lairds an' Commons,
To creesh the nation's moolie-heels,
An' butter Commerce' rusty wheels,
An' see what new, what untried tax
Will lie the easiest on oor backs.
To ca' his bairns, the Lairds an' Commons,
To creesh the nation's moolie-heels,
An' butter Commerce' rusty wheels,
An' see what new, what untried tax
Will lie the easiest on oor backs.
The priest convenes his scandal court,
To ken what houghmagandie sport
Has been gaun on within the parish
Since last they met,—their funds to cherish.
But I, the servant o' Apollo,
Whose mandates I am proud to follow,—
He bids me warn you, as the friend
Of Burns's fame, that ye 'll attend
Neist Friday e'en, in Luckie Wricht's,
To spend the best—the wale o' nichts;
Sae, under pain o' half-a-merk,
Ye 'll come, as signed by me, the Clerk.
To ken what houghmagandie sport
Has been gaun on within the parish
Since last they met,—their funds to cherish.
But I, the servant o' Apollo,
Whose mandates I am proud to follow,—
He bids me warn you, as the friend
Of Burns's fame, that ye 'll attend
Neist Friday e'en, in Luckie Wricht's,
To spend the best—the wale o' nichts;
Sae, under pain o' half-a-merk,
Ye 'll come, as signed by me, the Clerk.
| The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | |