scotchdrink giehimstrongdrinkuntilhewink, that'ssinkingindespair an'liquorguidtofirehisbluid, that'sprestwi'griefandcare: therelethimbouse,an'deepcarouse, wi'bumpersflowingo'er, tillheforgetshislovesordebts, an'mindshisgriefsnomore. (solomon'sproverbs,xxxi.6,7.) letotherpoetsraiseafracas 'boutvines,an'wines,an'druckenbacchus, an'crabbitnamesan'storieswrackus, an'grateourlug: isingthejuicescotchbearcanmakus, inglassorjug. othou,mymuse!guidauldscotchdrink! whetherthro'wimplinwormsthoujink, or,richlybrown,reamowrethebrink, ingloriousfaem, inspireme,tillilispan'wink, tosingthyname! lethuskywheatthehaughsadorn, an'aitssetuptheirawniehorn, an'peaseandbeans,ate'enormorn, perfumetheplain: leezemeonthee,johnbarleycorn, thoukingo'grain! ontheeaftscotlandchowshercood, insouplescones,thewaleo'food! ortumblinintheboilingflood wi'kailan'beef butwhenthoupoursthystrongheart'sblood, therethoushineschief. foodfillsthewame,an'keepsusleevin tho'life'sagiftnoworthreceivin, whenheavy-dragg'dwi'pinean'grievin but,oil'dbythee, thewheelso'lifegaedown-hill,scrievin, wi'rattlinglee. thouclearstheheado'doitedlear thoucheersahehearto'droopingcare thoustringsthenerveso'laboursair, at'swearytoil thoughevenbrightensdarkdespair wi'gloomysmile. aft,cladinmassysillerweed, wi'gentlesthouerectsthyhead yet,humblykindintimeo'need, thepoorman'swine hisweepdrapparritch,orhisbread, thoukitchensfine. thouartthelifeo'publichaunts butthee,whatwereourfairsandrants? ev'ngodlymeetingso'thesaunts, bytheeinspired, whengapingtheybesiegethetents, aredoublyfir'd. thatmerrynightwegetthecornin, osweetly,then,thoureamsthehornin! orreekinonanew-yearmornin incogorbicker, an'justaweedrapsp'ritualburnin, an'gustysucker! whenvulcangieshisbellowsbreath, an'ploughmengatherwi'theirgraith, orare!toseetheefizzanfreath i'th'luggitcaup! thenburnewincomesonlikedeath ateverychap. naemercythen,forairnorsteel thebrawnie,banie,ploughmanchiel, bringshardowrehip,wi'sturdywheel, thestrongforehammer, tillblockan'studdieringanreel, wi'dinsomeclamour. whenskirlingweaniesseethelight, thoughmaksthegossipsclatterbright, howfumblin'cuiffstheirdeariesslight waeworththename! naehowdiegetsasocialnight, orplackfraethem. whenneiborsangerataplea, an'justaswudaswudcanbe, howeasycanthebarleybrie cementthequarrel! it'sayethecheapestlawyer'sfee, totastethebarrel. alake!thate'ermymusehasreason, towytehercountrymenwi'treason! butmonydailyweettheirweason wi'liquorsnice, an'hardly,inawinterseason, e'erspierherprice. waeworththatbrandy,burnintrash! fellsourceo'monyapainan'brash! twinsmonyapoor,doy,druckenhash, o'halfhisdays an'sends,beside,auldscotland'scash toherwarstfaes. yescots,whawishauldscotlandwell! yechief,toyoumytaleitell, poor,placklessdevilslikemysel'! itsetsyouill, wi'bitter,dearthfu'winestomell, orforeigngill. maygravelsroundhisblatherwrench, an'goutstormenthim,inchbyinch, whattwistshisgruntlewi'aglunch o'sourdisdain, outowreaglasso'whisky-punch wi'honestmen! owhisky!soulo'playsandpranks! acceptabardie'sgratfu'thanks! whenwantingthee,whattunelesscranks aremypoorverses! thoucomes—theyrattleintheirranks, atither'sa-s! thee,ferintosh!osadlylost! scotlandlamentfraecoasttocoast! nowcolicgrips,an'barkinhoast maykillusa' forloyalforbes'charter'dboast ista'enawa? thaecursthorse-leecheso'the'excise, whamakthewhiskystellstheirprize! haudupthyhan',deil!ance,twice,thrice! there,seizetheblinkers! an'bakethemupinbrunstanepies forpoordamn'ddrinkers. fortune!ifthou'llbutgiemestill halebreeks,ascone,an'whiskygill, an'rowtho'rhymetoraveatwill, taka'therest, an'deal'taboutasthyblindskill directstheebest.