Wit & humour > Gentle shepherd

The GENTLE SHEPHERD. 23
Peggy.
SANG V. How can I be fad on my wedding-day.
Hovi Jhall I be fad ’when a husband I hae
That has better fenfe than any of thae ?
Sour 'weak filly fellows, that ftudy like fotls
To fnk their ain joy, and make their wives fhocls.
The man who is prudent ne'er lightlies his wife.
Nor with dull reproaches encourages frife;
He praifes her virtues, and ne'er will abufe
Her for a fmall failing, but find an excufc.
Yes, ’tis a hartfome thing to be a wife.
When round the ingle-edge your fprouts are rife.
Gif I’m fae happy, I fhall have delight
To hear their little plaints, and keep them right.
Wow Jenny! can there greater pleafure be,
Than fee fic wee tots toolying at your knee;
When a’ they ettle at, their great#ft wilh.
Is to be made of, and obtain a kifs ?
Can there be toil in tenting day and night
The like of them, when love makes care delight ?
Jenny.
But poortith, Peggy, is the ward of a’:
Gif o’er your heads ill chance Ihould beggary draw;
But little love, or canty cheat can come
Frae duddy doublets, and a pantry loom.
Your nowt may die; the fpate may bear away
Frae off the howms your dainty rucks of hay;
The thick blawn wreaths of fnaw, or blafliy thows.
May fmoor your wathers, and may rot your ews:
A dyvour buys your butter, woo and cheefe.
But, or the day of payment, breaks and flees:
With glooman brow the Laird feeks in his rent:
It’s no to gie, your merchant’s to the bent:
| His Honour manna want, he poinds your gear:
|£yne driven frae houfe and hald, where will ye fleer ?
Dear