The poetical works of Sir Alexander Boswell ... Now first collected and edited, with memoir, by Robert Howie Smith |
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| SONGS
IN THE
Justiciary Opera,
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 | The poetical works of Sir Alexander Boswell |  |
135
SONGS IN THE Justiciary Opera,
COMPOSED FIFTY YEARS AGO, BY C[olin] M[aclaurin] & B[oswell] I.C.C.
Sævaque circuitu.------
Ovid. Met.
Ovid. Met.
Quin et Ixion,------vultu
Risit invito.------
Hor.
Risit invito.------
Hor.
140
- Caliendrosus Maximus, Grand Clerk of the Scales and Chopping Knife, and Commander of the Forces.
- Hystrix, Clerk of the Rounds.
- Bombyx, a very Great Officer.
- John Black, the Pannel.
- Bamboozle, Orator for the Pannel.
- Flaw-finder, Orator for the Pannel.
- Peppertail, the Horse-Couper, Witness.
- Bizz, the Blacksmith, Witness.
- Peter Brown, the Exciseman, Witness.
- Mathew Mutchkin, Witness.
- Widow Mackleerie, Witness.
- Waiter.
- Judges, Jurymen, Sheriffs, Baillies, Serjeants, Mob, &c., &c.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
141
Caliendrosus Maximus and Hystrix.
DUET.
Cal.
Saw ye my Trumpeter?
Or saw ye my Macer?
Or saw ye my man John?
Hyst.
I have not seen your Trumpeter,
I have not seen your Macer,
And drunk is your man John.
142
(Martial Music.)
Enter a Waiter.Waiter.
The Baillies are waitin, the Provost is come,
Twal permanent serjeants, a fife and a drum,
Twa Sherra's wi' swords (but they're peaceable men),
And some twa three mair—and the clock's chappit ten.
(A Grand Procession.)
SCENE, A Hall.Enter Caliendrosus Maximus, Bombyx, Hystrix, Bamboozle, Flaw-finder, Macer, Jurymen, Mob, &c.
Hyst.
Ge-en-tlemen o' the Jury,
Ye'll answer untill a' your names—
Walter Balwhid o' Pitlurie.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Mathew Powloosie o' Kames.
Jurym.
Here.
143
—Duncan Macwhey o' Todwiddock.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Jacob Bafour o' Howbrig.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—John Mackindo o' Glenpuddock.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Hew Gib in Bog o' Daljig.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Patrick Macrone o' Craig-gubble.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—George Yellowlees in Cowshaw.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Ralph Mucklehose in Blindrubble.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Robert Macmurdoch in Raw.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Andrew Mackissock in Shalloch.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Ingram Maclure in Benbole.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Gilbert Strathdee in Drummalloch.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Gabriel Tam in Dirt-hole.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Lowrie Macwill o' Powmuddle.
Jurym.
Here.
144
—Daniel Losh o' Benskair.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—John Stoupie, Writer, Kirkfuddle.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Baillie Bole, Shoemaker, there.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Samuel Macguire in Kraig-gullion—
If present, Sir, answer your name.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
—Quintin Maccosh in Knockdullion.
Jurym.
Here.
Hyst.
Gal-lery—Si-lence—Ahem!
[OMITTED]
Macer.
Hem!—Si-lence.
Cal.
Officer, bring John Black to the bar.
(The Pannel is brought in guarded, and Petitions for Banishment.)
Pannel.
O send me oure the lang seas
My ain kind lordie, O;
O send me oure the lang seas
My ain kind lordie, O.
145
Or send me south or nordie, O,
But send me oure the lang seas
My ain kind lordie, O.
Cal.
Pannel, a halter must be your end,
The fiend at your skirts has now his prong,
Your days, that are number'd, in penitence spend;
But I'll lecture you, presently, half-an-hour long.
The fiend at your skirts has now his prong,
Your days, that are number'd, in penitence spend;
But I'll lecture you, presently, half-an-hour long.
Mercy were folly, if lavish'd on him;
Robbing and thieving the gallows shall check.
Our duty is plain, we'll proceed to condemn;
John—you shall certainly hang by the neck.
Robbing and thieving the gallows shall check.
Our duty is plain, we'll proceed to condemn;
John—you shall certainly hang by the neck.
Pannel.
We're no guilty yet,
We're no guilty yet,
Although we're accused
We're no guilty yet.
We're no guilty yet,
Although we're accused
We're no guilty yet.
Afore ye condemn
Ye man hear us a bit,
For although we're accus'd
We're no guilty yet.
Ye man hear us a bit,
For although we're accus'd
We're no guilty yet.
146
Hyst.
Whereas, by the laws o' this realm,
And o' ev'ry well governed land,
To seize on anither man's geer,
(As the tangs ance a Highlandman fand)
And o' ev'ry well governed land,
To seize on anither man's geer,
(As the tangs ance a Highlandman fand)
And whether the thief, he be caught
In the fact, or be gruppit out-fang,
The law says expressly, and wisely,
That chiel by the thrapple shall hang.
In the fact, or be gruppit out-fang,
The law says expressly, and wisely,
That chiel by the thrapple shall hang.
And you, John Black, there, the pannel,
Ye robbit, assaulted and a',
And sae, gang till an assize, Sir,
And underlie pains o' the law.
Ye robbit, assaulted and a',
And sae, gang till an assize, Sir,
And underlie pains o' the law.
Bombyx.
Painful the duty is, which I must now perform,
Stating a train of guilt uncommon and enorm-
Ous,—calling my witnesses to make the fact out plain,
And if your verdict's guilty, my labour's not in vain.
Stating a train of guilt uncommon and enorm-
Ous,—calling my witnesses to make the fact out plain,
And if your verdict's guilty, my labour's not in vain.
147
Gentlemen, your feelings must, with justice, never jar,
The statutes of the land condemn the pris'ner at the bar;
The law most clearly indicates the gallows, as reward,
For culprits such as him between the soldiers of the guard.
The statutes of the land condemn the pris'ner at the bar;
The law most clearly indicates the gallows, as reward,
For culprits such as him between the soldiers of the guard.
John Black met Peter Brown, upon the King's highway,
With foul intent to rob, I fear intent to slay;
John Black, the pannel, did step up to Peter Brown,
And with his fist, or bludgeon, did knock said Peter down.
With foul intent to rob, I fear intent to slay;
John Black, the pannel, did step up to Peter Brown,
And with his fist, or bludgeon, did knock said Peter down.
Ferocious, atrocious, felonious also,
Did then and there, with that or this, reiterate the blow;
Then seized Peter by the throat, to suffocate his cries,
And most outrageously exclaim'd, “Your money, d--- your eyes.”
Did then and there, with that or this, reiterate the blow;
Then seized Peter by the throat, to suffocate his cries,
And most outrageously exclaim'd, “Your money, d--- your eyes.”
Enter Peter Brown.
Peter.
The pannel's a regardless loon,
And brags that he defies man;
And bauldly threepit through the toun
He'd do for the Exciseman.
And brags that he defies man;
And bauldly threepit through the toun
He'd do for the Exciseman.
148
I thought 'twas nought but silly clash,
That sneevlin gowks wad tell me,
Quo' I, my thum' I wanna fash,
It's no sic like can fell me.
That sneevlin gowks wad tell me,
Quo' I, my thum' I wanna fash,
It's no sic like can fell me.
Four cadgers rade through Halkwood-slack,
I doubted Jean Mackleerie,
I took the road, when up cam Black,
And dang me tapsalteerie.
I doubted Jean Mackleerie,
I took the road, when up cam Black,
And dang me tapsalteerie.
He rypit, may be, for his knife,
I thought I saw it glancin,
He took the rue, and sav'd my life,
Syne like a deil gaed dancin.
I thought I saw it glancin,
He took the rue, and sav'd my life,
Syne like a deil gaed dancin.
Enter Peppertail.
Pepper.
Comin' frae the toun o' Straiven,
On my poor mare that had the spaivin,
I met the pannel near the Kirk o' Shotts,
Like ony madman he was ravin.
On my poor mare that had the spaivin,
I met the pannel near the Kirk o' Shotts,
Like ony madman he was ravin.
Black his hair and blue his coat;
Tightly he did the gauger han'le,
The mair he shuck the fallow by the throat,
The steadier still I ee'd the pannel.
Tightly he did the gauger han'le,
The mair he shuck the fallow by the throat,
The steadier still I ee'd the pannel.
149
Mat.
As I cam hame frae Ruglin fair,
At e'en whan it was dusky,
I had enough—and may be mair,
A drap oure muckle whisky.
At e'en whan it was dusky,
I had enough—and may be mair,
A drap oure muckle whisky.
I saw twa fallows yoke thegither,
Wha they war, the taen or tither,
I ken na mair nor Abram's mither,
I was blin wi' whisky.
Wha they war, the taen or tither,
I ken na mair nor Abram's mither,
I was blin wi' whisky.
Enter Bizz.
Bombyx.
Pray, What is your name, friend? tell us.
Bizz.
Tammas Bizz.—I've blawn the bellows,
And I've clinkit on the studdy
Sin a wean, knee-heigh and duddy.
And the gauger, weel I ken,
Aft he stammers butt and ben,
Snowkin a' frae end to end,
He's mislear'd and capernoited.
Aft he stammers butt and ben,
Snowkin a' frae end to end,
He's mislear'd and capernoited.
150
And I ken Jock Black fou weel,
A sturdy hand at our fore-hammer;
Bess, his wife, flytes at the chiel,
But weel a wat I do condemn her.
A sturdy hand at our fore-hammer;
Bess, his wife, flytes at the chiel,
But weel a wat I do condemn her.
Wark, ye ken yersels, brings drouth,
Wha can thole a gaizen'd mouth,
And gif he tak a gill, forsooth
Queans man flyte, and fools man clatter.
Wha can thole a gaizen'd mouth,
And gif he tak a gill, forsooth
Queans man flyte, and fools man clatter.
Jock, I ken's an honest lad,
Thievish pranks was ne'er his custom,
Tho' he be sae sair misca'd,
Wi' gowd in gowpins ye may trust him.
Thievish pranks was ne'er his custom,
Tho' he be sae sair misca'd,
Wi' gowd in gowpins ye may trust him.
I hae kent him sin a bairn,
A penny willing aye to earn,
And tho' he's coupit i' the shearn,
Troth I ken nought ill about him.
Enter Widow Mackleerie.
A penny willing aye to earn,
And tho' he's coupit i' the shearn,
Troth I ken nought ill about him.
Widow Mac.
I hae a house o' my ain,
On the road to Hamilton,
Whisky I sell, to be plain,
Arran Water, or Campbleton.
On the road to Hamilton,
Whisky I sell, to be plain,
Arran Water, or Campbleton.
151
Peter the gauger, himsel,
Whiles comes pipple papple in,
Puzion, frae ony big stell,
He'll no pit his thrapple in.
Whiles comes pipple papple in,
Puzion, frae ony big stell,
He'll no pit his thrapple in.
Widow Mackleerie's my name,
Mine's a tippeny eatin house,
Carriers find a warm hame,
Mine's niest door to the meetin-house.
Mine's a tippeny eatin house,
Carriers find a warm hame,
Mine's niest door to the meetin-house.
As for the pannel, Jock Black,
I'm wae to see him here awa,
He never wrang'd me ae plack;
Gude send he wun clear awa!
I'm wae to see him here awa,
He never wrang'd me ae plack;
Gude send he wun clear awa!
(The Orators for the Pannel plead.)
Bamboozle.
Fye on the laws that hang a man for stealing,
Sure such penal statutes, were savagely fram'd
By legislators devoid of human feeling,
Before divine religion mankind had tam'd.
Gentlemen, 'tis yours, with vigour,
To check the law's excessive rigour,
Yours is the power, to you the choice is given.
A father—husband—bends;
152
'Tis yours to take or give,
To bid him die—or live!
Then here that mercy show, you hope from Heaven.
Flaw-finder.
Gentlemen, now 'tis my turn to address you,
And with much speaking I need not oppress you,
The proof lies before you, in writing down taken,
All I do wish is to save this man's bacon.
And with much speaking I need not oppress you,
The proof lies before you, in writing down taken,
All I do wish is to save this man's bacon.
But as it is usual some few things to mention,
I say, that to steal, it was not his intention,
So be not, I pray, like the Lords in a fury,
But bring this man off like a sensible jury.
I say, that to steal, it was not his intention,
So be not, I pray, like the Lords in a fury,
But bring this man off like a sensible jury.
(Charge to the Jury.)
Cal.
If ever a case before me came
That I could judge most clearly,
This is a case, I'll boldly name,
I've scrutiniz'd it nearly.
That I could judge most clearly,
This is a case, I'll boldly name,
I've scrutiniz'd it nearly.
153
To trace the truth through all its track,
No witch requires, or jugglers;
The witnesses are all a pack
Of drunkards and of smugglers.
No witch requires, or jugglers;
The witnesses are all a pack
Of drunkards and of smugglers.
The counsel for the crown, with skill,
Extorted facts most glaring;
Black, when prim'd, by stoup and gill,
You see, became most daring.
Extorted facts most glaring;
Black, when prim'd, by stoup and gill,
You see, became most daring.
That Black put Brown in mortal fear,
The proof is clear—clarissima,
And that he robb'd, tho' not quite clear,
Presumptio est fortissima.
The proof is clear—clarissima,
And that he robb'd, tho' not quite clear,
Presumptio est fortissima.
Gentlemen, 'tis my desire,
To state the case precisely;
'Tis you to judge, so now retire,
And weigh your verdict wisely.
To state the case precisely;
'Tis you to judge, so now retire,
And weigh your verdict wisely.
The proof is strong, a verdict bring,
Such honest men becoming;
I need not say one other thing,
And so I end my summing.
Such honest men becoming;
I need not say one other thing,
And so I end my summing.
154
Lowrie Macwill o' Powmuddle, Chancellor. John Stoupie, Clerk.
Powmuddle.
In this case there's nae argument,
Nae minor, and nae major,
A chield had taen a glass, and had
A towzle wi' a gauger;
That there's nae proof o' robbery,
To see, I think, ye canna miss,
Sae we the pannel man acquit,
No guilty, Sirs,—Unanimous,
Demi Chorus by Five Jurymen.
Unanimous, Unanimous,
Double Chorus by Ten Jurymen.
Unanimous, Unanimous,
Grand Chorus by the whole Fifteen.
Sae we the pannel man acquit,
No guilty, Sirs,—Unanimous.
(The Verdict is returned, Caliendrosus Maximus reads—in a passion.)
Caliendrosus.
A plague o' such juries, they make such a pother,
And thus, by their folly, let pannels go free;
And still on some silly pretext or another,
Nothing is left for your Lordships and me.
And thus, by their folly, let pannels go free;
155
Nothing is left for your Lordships and me.
Our duty, believe us,
Was not quite so grievous,
While yet we had hopes for to hang 'em up all;
But now they're acquitted,
O how we're out-witted,
We've sat eighteen hours here for nothing at all.
Was not quite so grievous,
While yet we had hopes for to hang 'em up all;
But now they're acquitted,
O how we're out-witted,
We've sat eighteen hours here for nothing at all.
Chorus by the whole Bench.
Tol de rol, lol de rol, tol de rol, lol de rol,
Tol de rol, lol de rol, tol de rol, lol,
But now they're acquitted, &c.
(Mob without Huzza.)
| The poetical works of Sir Alexander Boswell | |