6
Wi' his last gasp this gab did gape!
Five tomahawks, wi' blude red rusted
Five scymitars, wi' murder crusted!
A garter, which a babe had strangled!
A knife, a father's throat had mangled!
Whom his ain son o' life bereft,
The grey hairs yet stack to the host
Three lawyer's tongues turn'd inside-out,
Wi' lies seam'd like a beggar's close;
And priests' hearts, rotten black as muck,
Lay stinkin vile in every neak!
Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu'!
Which ev'n to name wad le uulawfu'
As Tammie glowr'd, amag'd and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious!
The piper loud and louder blew,
The dancers quick and quicker flew!
They reel'd, they set, they crass'd, they cleekit,
Til ilka carlin swat and reekit,
And koost her duddies to the wark,
And linkit at it in her sark!
Now Tam, O Tam! had they been queans
A' plump and strapping in their teens,
Their sarks, instead o' creechie flannen,
Been snaw-white se'enteen hunder linen,
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair,
That alice were plush, o gade blue hair,
I wad hae gi'en them aff my hurdies,
For ae blink o' the bonny burdies!
But withier'd beldams, auld and droll,
Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal;
Louping and flinging on a crummock,
I wonder't didna turn your stomach.
But Tam kend what was what fu' brawlie,
