Page:Monk and miller's wife.pdf/6

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Thro’ which he saw a glent of light,
That gae diversion to his sight:
By this he quickly coud discern
A thin wa’ sep’rate house and barn;
And thro’ this rive was in the wa’,
A’ done within the house he saw:
He saw (what ought not to be seen,
And scarce gae credit to his een);
The parish priest, of reverend fame,
In active courtship with the dame!—
To lengthen out description here,
Wad but offend the modest ear,
And beet the lewder youthfu’ flame
That we by satire strive to tame.
Suppose the wicked action o’er,
And James continuing still to glowr;
Wha saw the wife, as fast as able,
Spread a clean servit on the table,
And syne, frae the ha’ ingle, bring ben
A piping het young roasted hen,
And twa good bottles stout and clear,
Ane of strong ale, and ane of beer.

But wicked luck: just as the priest
Shot in his fork in chucky’s breast,
Th’ unwelcome miller gae a roar,
Cry’d, “Bessy, haste ye, ope the door.”—
With that the haly letcher fled,
And darn’d himsel behint a bed;