The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill With biography, illustrations, and music |
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MODE FOR ATTAINING A CHARACTER. |
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 | The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill |  |
176
MODE FOR ATTAINING A CHARACTER.
If thou on earth wouldst live respected,In few words, here 's the way to make it:
Get dog-thick with the parish priest,
To all his foibles mould thy taste;
What he condemns, do thou condemn,
What he approves, do thou the same;
Cant Scripture words in every case,
“Salvashion, saunt, redemshion, grace”;
But controverted points forbear,
For thou mayst shew thy weakness there;
Look grave, demure as any owl—
A cheerful look might damn the whole;
Gang rigid to the kirk on Sunday,
With face as lang's a gothic window;
But from these maxims shouldst thou sever,
Poor profligate! thou 'rt lost for ever.
| The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | |