Stanas On Naething
stanzas ohing
extempore epistle to gavin hamilton, esq.
to you, sir, this summons i've sent,
pray, whip till the pownie is freathing;
but if you demand what i want,
i holy answer you—hing.
ne'er s a poor poet like me,
for idly just living and breathing,
while people of every degree
are busy employed about—hing.
poor tum-per-tum may fast,
and grumble his hurdies their claithing,
he'll find, when the balance is cast,
he's gao the devil for-hing.
the courtier ges and bows,
ambition has likewise its plaything;
a et beams on his brows;
and what is a et-hing.
some quarrel the presbyter gown,
some quarrel episcopal graithing;
but every good fellow will own
their quarrel is a' about—hing.
the lover may sparkle and glow,
approag his bo gay thing:
but marriage will soo him know
he's gotten—a buskit up hing.
the poet may jingle and rhyme,
in hopes of a laureate wreathing,
and when he has wasted his time,
he's kindly rewarded wi'—hing.
the thundering bully may rage,
and swagger and swear like a heathen;
but collar him fast, i'll engage,
you'll find that his ce is—hing.
last night wi' a feminine whig—
a poet she couldna put faith in;
but soon we grew lovingly big,
i taught her, her terrors were hing.
her whigship was wonderful pleased,
but charmingly tickled wi' ae thing,
her fingers i lovingly squeezed,
and kissed her, and promised her—hing.
the priest anathemas may threat—
predit, sir, that we're baith in;
but when honour's reveille is beat,
the holy artillery's hing.
and now i must mount on the wave—
my voyage perhaps there is death in;
but what is a watery grave?
the drowning a poet is hing.
and now, as grim death's in my thought,
to you, sir, i make this bequeathing;
my service as long as ye've ought,
and my friendship, by god, when ye've hing.
extempore epistle to gavin hamilton, esq.
to you, sir, this summons i've sent,
pray, whip till the pownie is freathing;
but if you demand what i want,
i holy answer you—hing.
ne'er s a poor poet like me,
for idly just living and breathing,
while people of every degree
are busy employed about—hing.
poor tum-per-tum may fast,
and grumble his hurdies their claithing,
he'll find, when the balance is cast,
he's gao the devil for-hing.
the courtier ges and bows,
ambition has likewise its plaything;
a et beams on his brows;
and what is a et-hing.
some quarrel the presbyter gown,
some quarrel episcopal graithing;
but every good fellow will own
their quarrel is a' about—hing.
the lover may sparkle and glow,
approag his bo gay thing:
but marriage will soo him know
he's gotten—a buskit up hing.
the poet may jingle and rhyme,
in hopes of a laureate wreathing,
and when he has wasted his time,
he's kindly rewarded wi'—hing.
the thundering bully may rage,
and swagger and swear like a heathen;
but collar him fast, i'll engage,
you'll find that his ce is—hing.
last night wi' a feminine whig—
a poet she couldna put faith in;
but soon we grew lovingly big,
i taught her, her terrors were hing.
her whigship was wonderful pleased,
but charmingly tickled wi' ae thing,
her fingers i lovingly squeezed,
and kissed her, and promised her—hing.
the priest anathemas may threat—
predit, sir, that we're baith in;
but when honour's reveille is beat,
the holy artillery's hing.
and now i must mount on the wave—
my voyage perhaps there is death in;
but what is a watery grave?
the drowning a poet is hing.
and now, as grim death's in my thought,
to you, sir, i make this bequeathing;
my service as long as ye've ought,
and my friendship, by god, when ye've hing.