Classic Poem

The the Gentle S HEPHERD , spoken in a Provincial Theatre .

Y E patronizers of our little party,
My heart's e'en light to see you a' sae hearty:
I'm fain, indeed, and trouth I've meikle cause,
Since your blythe faces ha'f insure applause.
We come this night with nae new-fangled story,
Of knave's deceit, or fop's vain blust'ring glory,
Nor harlequin's wild pranks, with skin like leopard,
We're come to gie your ain auld Gentle Shepherd,
Whilk aye will charm, and will be read, and acket,
Till Time himsel' turn auld and kick the bucket.
I mind, langsyne, when I was just a callan,
That a' the kintra rang in praise o' Allan;
Ilk rising generation toots his fame,
And, hun'er years to come, 'twill be the same:
For wha has read, tho' e'er sae lang sinsyne,
But keeps the living picture on his mind;
Approves bauld Patie's clever, manly turn,
And maist thinks Roger cheap o' Jenny's scorn;
His dowless gait, the cause of a' his care,
For " nane, except the brave, deserve the fair. "
Hence sweet young Peggy lo'ed her manly Pate,
And Jenny geck'd at Roger, dowf and blate.

Our gude Sir William stands a lesson leel
To lairds wha'd hae their vassals lo'e them weel;
To prince and peer, this maxim it imparts,
Their greatest treasures are the peoples' hearts.

Frae Glaud and Symon would we draw a moral,
" The virtuous youth-time mak's the canty carle, "
The twa auld birkies caper blythe and bauld,
Nor shaw the least regret that they're turn'd auld.

Poor Bauldy! O 'tis like to split my jaws!
I think I see him under Madge's claws:
Sae may misfortune tear him spawl and plack,
Wha'd wrang a bonny lass, and syne draw back.

But, Sirs, to you I maist forgot my mission,
I'm sent to beg a truce to criticism;
We don't pretend to speak by square and rule,
Like yon wise chaps bred up in Thespian school:
And to your wishes should we not succeed,
Pray be sae kind as take the will for deed.