But to our tale: — Ae market night, Tam had got planted unco right, Fast by an ingle,12 bleezin finely, 31 35 Wi' reamin swats 13 that drank divinely; 40 And at his elbow, Souter Johnie, His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony: Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither; 14 They had been fou 15 for weeks thegither. The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter; 45 17 50 Care, mad to see a man sae happy, E'en drown'd himsel amang the nappy: As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure, 55 The minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure; Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, O'er a' the ills o' life victorious! 115 I 20 Warlocks and witches in a dance; Nae cotillon brent-new 5 frae France, But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels Put life and mettle in their heels: A winnock bunker 7 in the east, There sat Auld Nick in shape o' beast; A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large, To gie them music was his charge; He screw'd the pipes and gart 9 them skirl,10 Till roof and rafters a' did dirl." Coffins stood round like open presses, That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses; And by some devilish cantraip 12 sleight Each in its cauld hand held a light, 125 12 80 By which heroic Tam was able To note upon the haly table 130 85 A murderer's banes in gibbet airns; 13 14 135 140 95 9 By this time he was cross the ford, Whare in the snaw the chapman smoor'd; And past the birks and meikle stane, ΟΙ Whare drucken Charlie brak's neck-bane; ? And thro' the whins,10 and by the cairn," Whare hunters fand the murder'd bairn; And near the thorn, aboon 13 the well, Whare Mungo's mither hang'd hersel. Before him Doon pours all his floods; The doubling storm roars thro' the woods; The lightnings flash from pole to pole, Near and more near the thunders roll; When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees, Kirk-Alloway seemed in a bleeze: 14 Thro' ilka bore 15 the beams were glancing, And loud resounded mirth and dancing. Inspiring bold John Barleycorn! What dangers thou can'st make us scorn! Wi' tippenny 16 we fear nae evil; Wi' usquebae 17 we'll face the devil! 100 105 They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they 15 mouth gorse 10 9 neck-bone above whiskey 8 drunken big 11 pile of stones child 13 twopenny ale crevice 16 17 blaze every 19 steamed 16 clutched 20 girls cast aside 14 21 clothes 22 work 205 Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin!1 In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin ! In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin! Kate soon will be a woefu' woman! Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg, And win the key-stane of the brig: 2 There at them thou thy tail may toss, A running stream they dare na cross. But ere the key-stane she could make, The fient a tail she had to shake! For Nannie, far before the rest, Hard upon noble Maggie prest, And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle; But little wist she Maggie's mettle Ae spring brought aff her master hale, But left behind her ain 6 grey tail: The carlin claught her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. 4 210 215 220 And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!"" And in an instant all was dark: 190 Thou minds me o' the happy days, When my fause luve was true. |