The Song of the Half-Penny
A long farewell to the gentleman who gave me the reward that was not niggardly, after the sun had set and the night was somewhat advanced; until I reached the firesidemy heard was playing with my mind in the belief that it was a guinea that the man had handed me.
Haoi o haoi ri
Ho ro thall
I shall not conceal from the rest
that I dont not deem the fee scant
I scraped twenty square feet and more, as much again and more of polite obeisances, asking with all honour what praise it deserved: when the fee was seen 'twas a shame of tell of it
'Twas in the house at the landing-place that we obtained shelter for the night; Angus MacAulay asked, "What is it in real earnest?" I said that it was a guinea, not one penny less; he spoke softly, "Thou shouldst give us a bottle out of it."
I said in generous tone, "Away with the small mean bottle! Why should we be reduced to its scanty measure, why should we not spend a pint of it? Off with thee, be a stout fellow, make for the village down yonder, take the Leacach road, leave thy foot-wear, put it off."
When he reached Charles, (?) the worthy man of substance, who was descended from gentle folk in whom honour was inborn, 'twas after the bottles had been filled that there was a devil of a commotion: when the fee was produced, there were two farthings in the purse!
Then Chalres lowered his brow and shook it mightily: "I have never been a laughing-stock since the day I wore a coat; a half-penny for a guinea — no one alive will take that, see the queen's impress on it and the picture of the harp underneath."
Then up spoke Angus, "The shame of that falls on me; (?) do not be casting it up again since we are both honourable men; wherever a gentleman is found, 'tis not Roderick the drover, and unless I am mistaken, he is a churl to his boots!
"When Norman from Unish and William from Ose, the other Norman and the Sheriff hear of this where they gather together, they will say that it was no gentleman who gave it away out of his fist, but a real roguish churl, one without urbanity or knowledge.
"The Goodman of Ferinlea will say, 'I have heard enough of it, the matter will come to light with honour and proof; full well could he recognise the copper quietly and his fingers, but the devil put hand-cuffs on him, like a thief under duress.'"
'Tis time for us now to be going home to our proper quarters, without dram or tobacco or anything to drink; a half-penny between eight, 'twas no seemly wage: he ate the oat-meal himself and the stingy fellow gave nothing to me!
Haoi o haoi ri
Ho ro thall
I shall not conceal from the rest
that I dont not deem the fee scant
I scraped twenty square feet and more, as much again and more of polite obeisances, asking with all honour what praise it deserved: when the fee was seen 'twas a shame of tell of it
'Twas in the house at the landing-place that we obtained shelter for the night; Angus MacAulay asked, "What is it in real earnest?" I said that it was a guinea, not one penny less; he spoke softly, "Thou shouldst give us a bottle out of it."
I said in generous tone, "Away with the small mean bottle! Why should we be reduced to its scanty measure, why should we not spend a pint of it? Off with thee, be a stout fellow, make for the village down yonder, take the Leacach road, leave thy foot-wear, put it off."
When he reached Charles, (?) the worthy man of substance, who was descended from gentle folk in whom honour was inborn, 'twas after the bottles had been filled that there was a devil of a commotion: when the fee was produced, there were two farthings in the purse!
Then Chalres lowered his brow and shook it mightily: "I have never been a laughing-stock since the day I wore a coat; a half-penny for a guinea — no one alive will take that, see the queen's impress on it and the picture of the harp underneath."
Then up spoke Angus, "The shame of that falls on me; (?) do not be casting it up again since we are both honourable men; wherever a gentleman is found, 'tis not Roderick the drover, and unless I am mistaken, he is a churl to his boots!
"When Norman from Unish and William from Ose, the other Norman and the Sheriff hear of this where they gather together, they will say that it was no gentleman who gave it away out of his fist, but a real roguish churl, one without urbanity or knowledge.
"The Goodman of Ferinlea will say, 'I have heard enough of it, the matter will come to light with honour and proof; full well could he recognise the copper quietly and his fingers, but the devil put hand-cuffs on him, like a thief under duress.'"
'Tis time for us now to be going home to our proper quarters, without dram or tobacco or anything to drink; a half-penny between eight, 'twas no seemly wage: he ate the oat-meal himself and the stingy fellow gave nothing to me!
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