Classic Poem

THE CAMELEON .

Twa travellers, as they were wa'king,
'Bout the Cameleon fell a ta'king;
Sic think it shaws them mettled men,
To say I 've seen, and ought to ken.
Says ane, " It 's a strange beast indeed!
" Four-footed, with a fish's head;
" A little bowk, with a lang tail,
" And moves far slawer than a snail;
" Of colour like a blawart blue — "
Reply'd his nibour, " That 's no true;
" For well I wat his colour 's green,
" If ane may true his ain twa een;
" For I in sun-shine saw him fair,
" When he was dining on the air. " —
" Excuse me, " says the ither blade,
" I saw him better in the shade,
" And he is blue. " — " He 's green, I 'm
" sure. " —
" Ye lied. " — " And ye're the son of a whore. "
Frae words there had been cuff and kick,
Had not a third come in the nick,
Wha tenting them in this rough mood,
Cry'd, " Gentlemen, what, are ye wood?
" What 's ye'r quarrel, and 't may be
" speer'd? " —
" Truth, " says the tane; " Sir, ye shall
hear 't:
" The Cameleon, I say he 's blue;
" He threaps, he 's green: now what say
" you? " —
" Ne'er fash ye'rsells about the matter, "
Says the sagacious arbitrator,
" He 's black, sae nane of you are right;
" I view'd him well with candle-light;
" And have it in my pocket here,
" Row'd in my napkin hale and feer. " —
" Fy! " said ae cangler, " what d' ye mean?
" I 'll lay my lugs on 't that he 's green. "
Said th' ither, " Were I gawn to death,
" I 'd swear he 's blue, with my last breath. " —
" He 's black, " the judge maintain'd ay stout;
And to convince them, whop'd him out:
But to surprize to ane and a',
The animal was white as snaw;
And thus reprov'd them: " Shallow boys!
" Away, away, make nae mair noise:
" Ye 're a' three wrang, and a' three right;
" But learn to own your nibours' sight
" As good as yours: your judgment speak,
" But never be sae daftly weak,
" T' imagine ithers will by force
" Submit their sentiments to yours;
" As things in various lights ye see,
" They 'll ilka ane resemble me. "