Classic Poem

SCENE I.

MAUSE .

Our laird come hame! — and owns young Pate his heir! —
That 's news indeed!

MADGE .

As true as ye stand there.
As they were dancing all in Symon's yard,
Sir William, like a warlock, with a beard
Five nives in length, and white as driven snaw,
Amang us came, cry'd, " Had ye merry a'. "
We ferly'd meikle at his unco look,
While frae his poutch he whirl'd forth a book.
As we stood round about him on the green,
He view'd us a', but fix'd on Pate his een:
Then pawkylie pretended he could spae,
Yet for his pains and skill wad naithing hae.

MAUSE .

Then sure the lasses, and ilk gaping coof,
Wad rin about him, and had out their loof.

MADGE .

As fast as fleas skip to the tate of woo,
Whilk slee tod Lowrie hads without his mow,
When he to drown them, and his hips to cool,
In summer days slides backward in a pool.
In short, he did for Pate braw things foretell,
Without the help of conjuring or spell.
At last, when well diverted, he withdrew,
Pou'd off his beard to Symon. — Symon knew
His welcome master: — round his knees he gat,
Hang at his coat, and syne for blythness grat.
Patrick was sent for: — happy lad is he! —
Symon tald Elspa — Elspa tald it me.
Ye 'll hear out a' the secret story soon:
And troth 'tis e'en right odd, when a' is done,
To think how Symon ne'er afore wad tell,
Na, no sae meikle as to Pate himsell.
Our Meg, poor thing, alake! has lost her jo.

MAUSE .

It may be sa, wha kens, and may be no:
To lift a love that 's rooted is great pain:
E'en kings have tane a queen out of the plain;
And what has been before may be again.

MADGE .

Sic nonsense! — love tak root, but tochergood,
'Tween a herd's bairn, and ane of gentle blood! —
Sic fashions in king Bruce's days might be,
But siccan ferlies now we never see.

MAUSE .

Gif Pate forsakes her, Bauldy she may gain: —
Yonder he comes; and vow! but he looks fain:
Nae doubt he thinks that Peggy 's now his ain.

MADGE .

He get her! slaverin doof! it sets him well
To yoke a plough where Patrick thought to teil!
Gif I were Meg, I 'd let young master see —

MAUSE .

Ye 'd be as dorty in your choice as he;
And so wad I: — but whisht! here Bauldy comes.

Enter B AULDY

(Singing.)

Jocky said to Jenny, Jenny wilt thou do 't?
Ne'er a fit, quoth Jenny, for my tocher-good;
For my tocher-good I winna marry thee:
E'ens ye like, quoth Jocky, ye may let it be.

MADGE .

Weel liltet, Bauldy, that 's a dainty sang.

BAULDY .

I 'll gie ye 't a' — 'tis better than 'tis lang.

(Sings again.)

I hae gowd and gear, I hae land eneugh,
I have seven good owsen ganging in a pleugh;
Ganging in a pleugh, and linkan o'er the lee;
And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be.

I hae a good ha' house, a barn, and a byer,
A peat-stack 'fore the door; we 'll mak a rantin fire;
I 'll mak a rantin fire, and merry sall we be:
And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be.
Jenny said to Jocky, gin ye winna tell,
Ye sall be the lad, I 'll be the lass mysell;
Ye 're a bonny lad, and I 'm a lassie free;
Ye 're welcomer to tak me than to let me be.

I trow sae: lasses will come to at last,
Tho' for a while they man their snaw-baws cast.

MAUSE .

Well, Bauldy, how gaes a'?

BAULDY .

Faith, unco right;
I hope we 'll a' sleep sound but ane this night.

MADGE .

And wha 's the unlucky ane, if we may ask?

BAULDY .

To find out that is nae difficult task:
Poor bonny Peggy, wha man think nae mair
On Pate, turn'd Patrick, and Sir William's heir.
Now, now, good Madge, and honest Mause, stand be;
While Meg 's in dumps, put in a word for me:
I 'll be as kind as ever Pate could prove,
Less wilfu', and ay constant in my love.

MADGE .

As Neps can witness, and the bushy thorn,
Where mony a time to her your heart was sworn.
Fy, Bauldy, blush, and vows of love regard;
What other lass will trow a mansworn herd?
The curse of heaven hings ay aboon their heads,
That 's ever guilty of sic sinfu' deeds.
I 'll ne'er advise my niece sae grey a gate;
Nor will she be advis'd, fou well I wate.

BAULDY .

Sae grey a gate! mansworn! and a' the rest! —
Ye lied, auld roudes; and in faith had best
Eat in your words, else I shall gar you stand,
With a het face, afore the haly band.

MADGE .

Ye 'll gar me stand! ye shevelling-gabbit brock;
Speak that again, and trembling dread my rock,
And ten sharp nails, that when my hands are in,
Can flyp the skin o' y'er cheeks out o'er your chin.

BAULDY .

I take ye witness, Mause, ye heard her say
That I 'm mansworn: — I winna let it gae.

MADGE .

Ye 're witness too, he ca'd me bonny names,
And should be serv'd as his good-breeding claims:
Ye filthy dog!
[Flees to his hair like a fury. — A stout battle. — Mause endeavours to redd them.]

MAUSE .

Let gang your grips: — fye, Madge! — howt, Bauldy, leen: —
I widna wish this tulzie had been seen,
'Tis sae daft like —
[Bauldy gets out of Madge's clutches with a bleeding nose.]

MADGE .

'Tis dafter like to thole
An ether-cap like him, to blaw the coal.
It sets him well, with vile unscrapit tongue,
To cast up whether I be auld or young;
They 're aulder yet than I have married been,
And, or they died, their bairns bairns have seen.

MAUSE .

That 's true: and, Bauldy, ye was far to blame,
To ca' Madge ought but her ain christen'd name.

BAULDY .

My lugs, my nose, and noddle finds the same.

MADGE .

Auld roudes! — filthy fellow, I shall auld ye.

MAUSE .

Howt, no: — ye 'll e'en be friends with honest Bauldy.
Come, come, shake hands; this man nae farder gae;
Ye man forgi'e 'm: — I see the lad looks wae.

BAULDY .

In troth now, Mause, I have at Madge nae spite;
For she abusing first, was a' the wyte
Of what has happen'd, and shou'd therefore crave
My pardon first, and shall acquittance have.

MADGE .

I crave your pardon, gallows-face! — gae greet,
And own your faut to her that ye wad cheat:
Gae, or be blasted in your health and gear,
Till ye learn to perform as well as swear.
Vow and lowp back! — was e'er the like heard tell?
Swith tak him deel, he 's o'er lang out of hell.

BAULDY .

His presence be about us! — curst were he
That were condemn'd for life to live with thee.
[Runs off.
MADGE .

(Laughing.)

I think I have towzled his harigalds a wee;
He 'll no soon grein to tell his love to me.
He 's but a rascal that would mint to serve
A lassie sae, he does but ill deserve.

MAUSE .

Ye towin'd him tightly; I commend ye for 't;
His bleeding snout gae me nae little sport;
For this forenoon he had that scant of grace,
And breeding baith, to tell me to my face,
He hop'd I was a witch, and wadna stand
To lend him in this case my helping hand.

MADGE .

A witch! how had ye patience this to bear,
And leave him een to see, or lugs to hear?

MAUSE .

Auld wither'd hands and feeble joints like mine,
Obliges fowk resentment to decline,
Till aft 'tis seen, when vigour fails, that we
With cunning can the lack of pith supply:
Thus I pat aff revenge till it was dark,
Syne bade him come, and we should gang to wark:
I 'm sure he 'll keep his tryst; and I came here
To seek your help that we the fool may fear.

MADGE .

And special sport we 'll hae, as I protest;
Ye 'll be the witch, and I shall play the ghaist.
A linen sheet wound round me like ane dead,
I 'll cawk my face, and grane, and shake my head:
We 'll fleg him sae, he 'll mint nae mair to gang
A conjuring to do a lassie wrang.

MAUSE .

Then let us go; for see, 'tis hard on night,
The westlin cloud shines with a setting light.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

P ATIE and R OGER .

ROGER .

W OW ! but I 'm cadgie, and my heart lowps light:
O, Mr. Patrick, ay your thoughts were right.
Sure gentle fowks are farer seen than we,
That naithing hae to brag of pedigree.
My Jenny now, who brak my heart this morn,
Is perfect yielding, sweet, and nae mair scorn:
I spak my mind — she heard — I spak again —
She smil'd — I kiss'd — I woo'd, nor woo'd in vain.

PATIE .

I 'm glad to hear 't. — But O! my change this day
Heaves up my joy; — and yet I 'm sometimes wae,
I 've found a father, gently kind as brave,
And an estate that lifts me boon the lave:
With looks all kindness, words that love confest,
He all the father to my soul exprest,
While close he held me to his manly breast:
" Such were the eyes, " he said, " thus smil'd the
" mouth
" Of thy lov'd mother, blessing o' my youth,
" Wha set too soon. " — And while he praise bestow'd,
Adown his gracefu' cheeks a torrent flow'd.
My new-born joys, and this his tender tale,
Did, mingled thus, o'er a' my thoughts prevail;
That, speechless, lang my late-ken'd sire I view'd,
While gushing tears my panting breast bedew'd:
Unusual transports made my head turn round,
Whilst I myself with rising raptures found
The happy son of ane sae much renown'd.
But he has heard — too faithful Symon's fear
Has brought my love for Peggy to his ear;
Which he forbids: — ah! this confounds my peace,
While thus to beat my heart must sooner cease.

ROGER .

How to advise ye, troth I 'm at a stand;
But were 't my case, ye 'd clear it up aff hand.

PATIE .

Duty and haflen reason plead his cause;
But love rebels against all bounding laws;
Fixt in my soul the shepherdess excels,
And part of my new happiness repels.

SANG XVI.

Duty and part of reason
Plead strong on the parent's side;
Which love superior calls treason, —
The strongest must be obey'd.

For now, tho' I'm one of the gentry,
My constancy falsehood repels;
For change in my heart is no entry,
Still there my dear Peggy excels.

ROGER .

Enjoy them baith: — Sir William will be won:
Your Peggy 's bonny: — you 're his only son.

PATIE .

She 's mine by vows, and stronger ties of love;
And frae these bands nae fate my mind shall move.
I 'll wed nane else, thro' life I will be true:
But still obedience is a parent's due.

ROGER .

Is not your master and yoursell to stay
Amang us here; or are ye gawn away
To London court, or ither far aff parts,
To leave your ain poor us with broken hearts?

PATIE .

To Edinburgh straight to-morrow we advance,
To London neist, and afterwards to France,
Where I must stay some years, and learn to dance,
And twa three other monkey tricks: that done,
I come hame strutting in my red-heel'd shoon.
Then 'tis design'd, when I can well behave,
That I maun be some petted thing's dull slave,
For some few bags of cash, that I wat weel,
I nae mair need nor carts do a third wheel.
But Peggy, dearer to me than my breath,
Sooner than hear sic news, shall hear my death.

ROGER .

" They wha have just enough can soundly " sleep,
" The owrecome only fashes fowk to keep: " —
Good master Patrick, take your ain tale hame.

PATIE .

What was my morning thought, at night 's the same;
The poor and rich but differ in the name:
Content 's the greatest bliss we can procure
Frae 'boon the lift; without it kings are poor.

ROGER .

But an estate like yours yields braw content,
When we but pick it scantly on the bent:
Fine claiths, saft beds, sweet houses, sparkling wine,
Rich fare, and witty friends, whene'er ye dine,
Submissive servants, honour, wealth, and ease;
Wha 's no content with these are ill to please.

PATIE .

Sae Roger thinks, and thinks not far amiss;
But mony a cloud hings hovering o'er their bliss:
The passions rule the roast; and if they 're sour,
Like the lean kye, they 'll soon the fat devour.
The spleen, tint honour, and affronted pride,
Stang like the sharpest goads in gentry's side:
The gouts, and gravels, and the ill disease,
Are frequentest with fowk owrelaid with ease;
While o'er the moor the shepherd, with less care,
Enjoys his sober wish, and halesome air.

ROGER .

Lord, man, I wonder, ay, and it delights
My heart, whene'er I hearken to your flights;
How gat ye a' that sense I fain wad lear,
That I may easier disappointments bear?

PATIE .

Frae books, the wale of books, I gat some skill;
These best can teach what 's real good and ill.
Ne'er grudge ilk year to ware some stanes of cheese,
To gain these silent friends that ever please.

ROGER .

I 'll do 't, and ye shall tell me which to buy;
Faith I'se hae books, tho' I shou'd sell my kye.
But now let 's hear how you 're design'd to move
Between Sir William's will, and Peggy's love?

PATIE .

Then here it lies; — his will man be obey'd;
My vows I 'll keep, and she shall be my bride;
But I some time this last design man hide.
Keep you the secret close, and leave me here;
I sent for Peggy, — yonder comes my dear.

ROGER .

And proud of being your secretary, I
To wyle it frae me a' the deels defy.

P ATIE solus.

With what a struggle must I now impart
My father's will to her that hads my heart!
I ken she loves, and her saft soul will sink,
While it stands trembling on the hated brink
Of disappointment. — Heav'n support my fair,
And let her comfort claim your tender care! —
Her eyes are red! —

Enter P EGGY .

— My Peggy, why in tears?
Smile as ye wont, allow nae room for fears;
Tho' I'm nae mair a shepherd, yet I 'm thine.

PEGGY .

I dare not think sae high. — I now repine
At the unhappy chance that made not me
A gentle match, or still a herd kept thee.
Wha can withouten pain see frae the coast
The ship that bears his all like to be lost;
Like to be carried by some rever's hand
Far frae his wishes to some distant land?

PATIE .

Ne'er quarrel fate, whilst it with me remains
To raise thee up, or still attend these plains.
My father has forbid our loves, I own;
But love 's superior to a parent's frown.
I falsehood hate; come, kiss thy cares away;
I ken to love as well as to obey.
Sir William 's generous: — leave the task to me
To make strict duty and true love agree.

PEGGY .

Speak on, speak ever thus, and still my grief;
But short I dare to hope the fond relief:
New thoughts a gentler face will soon inspire,
That with nice airs swims round in silk attire: —
Then I, poor me! with sighs may ban my fate,
When the young laird 's nae mair my heartsome Pate.
Nae mair again to hear sweet tales exprest
By the blyth shepherd that excell'd the rest;
Nae mair be envied by the tattling gang,
When Patie kiss'd me, when I danc'd or sang;
Nae mair, alake! we 'll on the meadows play,
And rin haff breathless round the rucks of hay,
As aft-times I have fled from thee right fain,
And fawn on purpose that I might be tane;
Nae mair around the foggy know I 'll creep,
To watch and stare upon thee while asleep. —
But hear my vow — 't will help to give me ease: —
May sudden death, or deadly sair disease,
And warst of ills attend my wretched life,
If e'er to ane but you I be a wife.

SANG XVII.

Speak on, speak thus, and still my grief,
Hold up a heart that 's sinking under
These fears, that soon will want relief,
When Pate must from his Peggy sunder.
A gentler face and silk attire,
A lady rich in beauty's blossom,
Alake, poor me! will now conspire
To steal thee from thy Peggy's bosom.

No more the shepherd who excell'd
The rest, whose wit made them to wonder,
Shall now his Peggy's praises tell: —
Ah! I can die, but never sunder.
Ye meadows where we often stray'd,
Ye bauks where we were wont to wander,
Sweet-scented rucks round which we play'd,
You 'll lose your sweets when we 're asunder.

Again, ah! shall I never creep
Around the know with silent duty,
Kindly to watch thee while asleep,
And wonder at thy manly beauty?
Hear, heav'n, while solemnly I vow,
Tho' thou shoul'st prove a wand'ring lover,
Thro' life to thee I shall prove true,
Nor be a wife to any other.

PATIE .

Sure heaven approves; and be assur'd of me,
I 'll ne'er gang back of what I 've sworn to thee:
And time, (tho' time man interpose a while,
And I man leave my Peggy and this isle,)
Yet time, nor distance, nor the fairest face,
(If there 's a fairer,) e'er shall fill thy place.
I 'd hate my rising fortune, should it move
The fair foundation of our faithfu' love.
If at my foot were crowns and sceptres laid,
To bribe my soul frae thee, delightful maid,
For thee I 'd soon leave these inferior things
To sic as have the patience to be kings. —
Wherefore that tear? — believe, and calm thy mind.

PEGGY .

I greet for joy to hear my love sae kind.
When hopes were sunk, and nought but mirk despair,
Made me think life was little worth my care,
My heart was like to burst; but now I see
Thy gen'rous thoughts will save thy heart for me:
With patience then I 'll wait each wheeling year,
Dream thro' that night, till my day-star appear;
And all the while I 'll study gentler charms
To make me fitter for my trav'ler's arms:
I 'll gain on uncle Glaud, he's far frae fool,
And will not grudge to put me throw ilk school,
Where I may manners learn.

SANG XVIII.

When hope was quite sunk in despair,
My heart it was going to break;
My life appear'd worthless my care,
But now I will save 't for thy sake.
Where'er my love travels by day,
Wherever he lodges by night,
With me his dear image shall stay,
And my soul keep him ever in sight.

With patience I 'll wait the long year,
And study the gentlest charms;
Hope time away till thou appear,
So lock thee for ay in those arms.
Whilst thou wast a shepherd, I priz'd
No higher degree in this life;
But now I 'll endeavour to rise
To a height is becoming thy wife.

For beauty that 's only skin deep,
Must fade like the gowans of May,
But inwardly rooted, will keep
For ever, without a decay.
Nor age, nor the changes of life,
Can quench the fair fire of love,
If virtue 's ingrain'd in the wife,
And the husband have sense to approve.

PATIE .

That 's wisely said;
And what he wares that way shall be well paid.
Tho' without a' the little helps of art,
Thy native sweets might gain a prince's heart,
Yet now, lest in our station we offend,
We must learn modes to innocence unken'd;
Affect aft-times to like the thing we hate,
And drap serenity, to keep up state;
Laugh when we 're sad, speak when we 've nought to say,
And for the fashion, when we 're blyth, seem wae;
Pay compliments to them we aft have scorn'd,
Then scandalize them when their backs are turn'd.

PEGGY .

If this is gentry, I had rather be
What I am still; — but I 'll be ought with thee.

PATIE .

No, no, my Peggy, I but only jest
With gentry's apes; for still, amang the best,
Good manners give integrity a bleeze,
When native virtues join the arts to please.

PEGGY .

Since with nae hazard, and sae small expence,
My lad frae books can gather siccan sense,
Then why, ah! why should the tempestuous sea
Endanger thy dear life, and frighten me?
Sir William 's cruel, that wad force his son,
For watna whats, sae great a risque to run.

PATIE .

There is nae doubt but travelling does improve;
Yet I wou'd shun it for thy sake, my love:
But soon as I 've shook aff my landwart cast
In foreign cities, hame to thee I 'll haste.

PEGGY .

SANG XIX.

At setting day and rising morn,
With soul that still shall love thee,
I 'll ask of heaven thy safe return,
With all that can improve thee.
I 'll visit aft the birken bush,
Where first thou kindly told me
Sweet tales of love, and hid my blush,
Whilst round thou didst enfold me.

To all our haunts I will repair,
By greenwood shaw or fountain;
Or where the summer day I 'd share
With thee upon yon mountain:
There will I tell the trees and flow'rs,
From thoughts unfeign'd and tender;
By vows you 're mine, by love is yours,
A heart which cannot wander.

With every setting day and rising morn,
I 'll kneel to heaven and ask thy safe return,
Under that tree, and on the suckler brae,
Where aft we wont, when bairns, to run and play:
And to the hizel shaw, where first ye vow'd
Ye wad be mine, and I as eithly trow'd,
I 'll aften gang, and tell the trees and flow'rs,
With joy, that they 'll bear witness I am yours.

PATIE .

My dear, allow me from thy temples fair
A shining ringlet, of thy flowing hair,
Which, as a sample of each lovely charm,
I 'll aften kiss, and wear about my arm.

PEGGY .

Were ilka hair that appertains to me
Worth an estate, they all belong to thee.
My sheers are ready, take what you demand,
And aught what love with virtue may command.

PATIE .

Nae mair we 'll ask: but since we 've little time,
To ware 't on words, wad border on a crime;
Love's fafter meaning better is exprest,
When it 's with kisses on the heart imprest.
[They embrace while the curtain is let down.