The Answer, To The Guidwife Of Wauchope-House

Guidwife,

I Mind it weel in early date,
When I was beardless, young, and blate,
An' first could thresh the barn,
Or haud a yokin' at the pleugh;
An, tho' fu' foughten sair eneugh,
Yet unco proud to learn.
When first amang the yellow corn
A man I reckon'd was;
An' with the lave ilk merry morn
Could rank my rig and lass;
Still shearing, and clearing
The tither stooked raw;
Wi' claivers, an' haivers,
Wearing the day awa:

Ev'n then, a wish, (I mind its power)
A wish,that to my latest hour
Shall strongly heave my breast;
That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan, or book could make,
Or sing a sang at least.

The rough burr-thistle, spreading wide
Amang the bearded bear,
I turn'd the weeder-clips aside,
An' spar'd the symbol dear.
No nation, no station
My envy e'er could raise:
A Scot still, but blot still,
I knew no higher praise.

But still the elements o' sang
In formless jumble, right an' wrang,
Wild floated in my brain;
Till on that hairst I said before,
May partner in the merry core,
She rous'd the forming strain.

I see her yet, the sonsie quean,
That lighted up my jingle;
Her pauky smile, her kittle een,
That gar't my heart-strings tingle.
So tiched, bewitched,
I rav'd ay to mysel;
But bashing and dashing,
I kend na how to tell.

Hale to the sex, ilk guid chiel says,
Wi' merry dance in winter days,
An' we to share in common:
The gust o' joy, the balm of woe,
The saul o' life, the heav'n below,
Is rapture-giving woman.

Ye surly sumphs, who hate the name,
Be mindfu' o' your mither:
She, honest woman, may think shame
That ye're connected with her.
Ye're wae men, ye're nae men,
That slight the lovely dears:
To shame ye, disclaim ye,
Ilk honest birkie swears.

For you, na bred to barn and byre,
Wha sweetly tune the Scottish lyre,
Thanks to you for your line.
The marled plaid ye kindly spare,
By me should gratefully be ware;
'Twad please me to the nine.

I'd be mair vauntie o' my hap,
Douce hingin owre my curple,
Than ony ermine ever lap,
Or proud imperial purple.
Farewell then, lang hale then,
An' plenty be your fa':
May losses and crosses
Ne'er at your hallan ca'.