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He who disowns the ruined fair one,
And for her wants and woes does care none;[1]
The wretch who can deny subsistence,
To life he rak'd into existence;[2]
The coof wha stands on clishmaclaver,
When lassies halflins offer favour;[3]
The sneak wha at a lassie's by-job,
Defrauds her wi' a frig or dry-bob;[4]
The knave, wha takes a private stroke,
Beneath a sanctimonious cloak;
In short, all who in any manner,[5]
Shall stain the fornicator's honour;
To take cognisance thereanent,
And punish the impenitent,[6]
We are the judges competent.
First Poet Burns he takes the chair,
Allow'd by a' his title's clear;[7]
He shows a duplicate pretension,[8]
To pass nem. con, without dissension:
Neist, Merchant Smith, our trusty Fiscal,
To cow each pertinacious rascal,
For whilk, his very foes admit,[9]
His merit is conspicuous great;
Richmond, the third, our worthy clerk,
Our minutes he will duly mark,[10]
And sit, dispenser o' the law,
In absence o' the ither twa;[11]
And fourth, our messenger-at-arms,
When failing a' the milder terms,
- ↑ This couplet found only in Add. MS.
- ↑ The wretch that can refuse assistance,
To those to whom he has given existence. - ↑ This couplet found only in the Frag. MS.
- ↑ This couplet found only in S. D.'s Version.
- ↑ All who in any way or manner.—Eg. Ver.
- ↑ This line omitted in Egerton Version.
- ↑ "Fair."—Eg. Ver.
- ↑ An allusion to his two lapses.
- ↑ In this, as every other state.—Eg. Ver.
- ↑ Our minutes regular to mark.—Eg. Ver.
- ↑ "Former twa."—Eg. Ver.