epistletomrs.scott gudewifeofwauchope—house,roxburghshire. gudewife, iminditweelinearlydate, wheniwasbardless,young,andblate, an'firstcouldthreshthebarn, orhaudayokin'atthepleugh an,tho'forfoughtensaireneugh, yetuncoproudtolearn: whenfirstamangtheyellowcorn amanireckon'dwas, an'wi'thelaveilkmerrymorn couldrankmyrigandlass, stillshearing,andclearing thetitherstookedraw, wi'claivers,an'haivers, wearingthedayawa. e'enthen,awish,(iminditspow'r), awishthattomylatesthour shallstronglyheavemybreast, thatiforpoorauldscotland'ssake someusefu'planorbookcouldmake, orsingasangatleast. theroughburr-thistle,spreadingwide amangthebeardedbear, iturn'dtheweeder-clipsaside, an'spar'dthesymboldear: nonation,nostation, myenvye'ercouldraise ascotstill,butblotstill, iknewnaehigherpraise. butstilheelementso'sang, informlessjumble,rightan'wrang, wildfloatedinmybrain 'tillonthathar'stisaidbefore, maypartnerinthemerrycore, sherous'dtheformingstrain iseeheryet,thesonsiequean, thatlightedupmyjingle, herwitchingsmile,herpawkyeen thatgartmyheart-stringstingle ifired,inspired, ateverykindlingkeek, butbashing,anddashing, ifearedayetospeak. heahtothesex!ilkguidchielsays: wi'merrydanceinwinterdays, an'wetoshareincommon thegusto'joy,thebalmofwoe, thesaulo'life,theheavenbelow, israpture-givingwoman. yesurlysumphs,whohatethename, bemindfu'o'yourmither she,honestwoman,maythinkshame thatye'reconnectedwithher: ye'rewaemen,ye'renaemen thatslightthelovelydears toshameye,disclaimye, ilkhonestbirkieswears. foryou,nobredtobarnandbyre, whasweetlytunethescottishlyre, thankstoyouforyourline: themarledplaidyekindlyspare, bymeshouldgratefullybeware 'twadpleasemetothenine. i'dbemairvauntieo'myhap, doucehinginowremycurple, thanonyermineeverlap, orproudimperialpurple. farewelhen,langhalethen, an'plentybeyourfa maylossesandcrosses ne'eratyourhallanca'! r.burns march,1787