Wit & humour > Gentle shepherd

The GENTLE SHEPHERD. 29
Put on your bonnet, Symon;—take a feat——
“ How’s all at hame ?—How’s Elfpa ? how does Kate ?
“ How fells black cattle ?—What gi’s woo this year ?
And fic like kindly quellions wad he fpear.
SANG VIII. Mucking of Geordy’s byar.
The Laird •who in riches and honour
Wad thrive, Jhould be kindly and free.
Nor rack the poor tenants, nxiho labour
To rife aboon poverty.
Elfe like the pack horfe that's unfother'd
And burden'd<uiili tumble down faint:
Thus virtue by hardfhip is fmother'd.
And rackers aft tine their rent.
G l a u D.
Then wad he gar his butler bring bedeen.
The nappy bottle ben, and glades clean;
Whilk in our bread: rais’d fic 3 blythfome flame.
As gart me mony a time gae dancing hame.
My heart’s e’en rais’d! Dear nibourwill ye day.
And tak your dinner here with me the day ?
We’ll fend for Elfpa too;—and upo’ fight.
I’ll whiflle Pate and Roger frae the hight.
I’ll yoke my fled, and fend to the neid town.
And bring a draught of ale baith dout and brown,
And gar our cotters a’, man, wife, and wean.
Drink till they tyne the gate to fland their lane,
Symon.
I wadna bauk my friend his blyth defign,
Gif that it hadna fird of a’ been mine:
For heer-yedreen I brew’d a bow of maut,
Yedreen I flew twa wathers prime and fat;
A furlet of good cakes my Elfpa beuk,
And a large ham hings reeding in the nook ;
I faw my fell, or I came o’er the loan,
Our meikle pot that fcads the whey put on,