'Till aft 't is seen, when vigour fails, then we
With cunning can the lak of pith supplie:
Thus I put aff revenge 'till it was dark,
Syne bade him come, and we should gang to wark:
I'm sure he'll keep his tryst; and I came here
To seek your help, that we the fool may fear.
Madge. And special sport we 'll hae as I protest;
Ye'll be the witch, and I shall play the ghaist;
A linen sheet wound round me like ane dead,
I'll cawk my face, and grane, and shake my head.
We'll fleg him sae, he 'll mint nae mair to gang
A conjuring, to do a lassie wrang.
Mause. Then let us gae; for see its hard on night, The westlin clouds shine red wi' setting light.
When birds begin to nod upon the bough,
And the green swaird grows damp wi' falling dew;
While good Sir William is to rest retir'd,
The Gentle Shepherd, tenderly inspir'd,
Walks thro' the broom wi' Roger ever leel,
To meet, to comfort Meg, and tak fareweel.
PATIE and ROGER enter.
Roger. Wow! but I'm cadgie, and my heart loups light;
O, Mr. Patrick! ay your thoughts were right:
Sure gentle fowk are farer seen than we,
That naething ha'e to brag of pedigree.
My Jenny now, wha brak my heart this morn,
Is perfect yielding-sweet-and nae mair scorn;
I spake my mind-she heard-I spake again,
She smil'd-I kiss'd- I woo'd, nor woo'd in vain.
Patie. I'm glad to hear 't-But, O! my change
this day,
Heaves up my joy, and yet I'm sometimes wae.
I've found a father, gently kind as brave,
And an estate that lifts me 'boon the lave.
Wi' looks a' kindness, words that love confest,
He a' the father to my soul exprest,
While close he held me to his manly breast.
Such were the eyes, he said, thus smil'd the mouth
Of thy lov'd mother, blessing of my youth!
Who set too soon!-And while he praise bestow'd,
Adown his gracefu' cheeks a torrent flow'd.
My new-born joys, and this his tender tale,
Did, mingled thus, o'er a' my thoughts prevail';
That speechless lang, my late kend sire I view'd,
While gushing tears my panting breast bedew'd;
Unusual transports made my head turn round,
Whilst I myself wi' rising raptures found,
The happy son of ane so much renown'd.
But he has heard 1- too faithful Symon's fear,
Has brought my love for Peggy to his ear:
Which he forbids;-ah! this confounds my peace,
While thus to beat, my heart shall sooner cease.
Roger. How to advise ye, troth, I'm at a stand;
But wer't my case, ye 'd clear it
up aff hand.
Patie. Duty, and haflen reason plead his cause,
But love rebels against all bounding laws;
Fixt in my heart my shepherdess excels,
And part of my new happiness repels.
SANG XVI. Tune, Kirk wad let me be.
Duty and part of reason,
Plead strong on the parent's side,
Which love so superior calls treason,
The strongest must be obey'd:
For now, though I'm ane of the gentry,
My constancy falsehood repels;
For change in my heart has no entry;
Still there my dear Peggy excels.
Roger. Enjoy them baith.-Sir William will be won; Your Peggy's bonny-you 're his only son.
Patie. She's mine by vows, and stronger ties of love,
And frae these bands nae change my mind shall move;
I'll wed nane else, through life I will be true;
But still obedience is a parent's due.
Roger. Is not our master and yoursell to stay
Amang us here ?or are ye gawn away
To I.ondon court, or ither far aff parts,
To leave your ain poor us wi' broken hearts?
Patie. To Edinburgh straight to-morrow we advance,
To London niest, and afterwards to France;
Where I must stay some years, and learn-to dance,
And twa three ither monkey-tricks :-That done,
I come hame strutting in my red-heel'd shoon.
Then 't is design'd, when I can weel behave,
That I maun be some petted thing's dull slave,
For some few bags of cash, that I wat weel
I nae mair need nor carts do a third wheel
But Peggy, dearer to me than my breath,
Sooner than hear sic news shall hear my death.
Roger. They wha ha’e just enough can soundly sleep,
The o'er-come only fashes fowk to keep-
Good, Master Patrick take your ain tale hame.
Patie. What was my morning thought at night's
The poor and rich but differ in the name.
Content's the greatest bliss we can procure
Frae 'boon the lift-without it kings are poor.
Roger. But an estate like yours yields braw content,
When we but pick it scantily on the bent:
Fine claiths, saft beds, sweet houses, sparkling wine,
Rich fare, and witty friends, whene'er ye dine;
Submissive servants, honour, wealth, and ease;
Wha's no content wi' thae are ill to please.
Patie. Sae Roger thinks, and thinks nae far amiss, But mony a cloud hings hov'ring o'er the bliss: The passions rule the roast-and if they 're sour, Like the lean ky, they'll soon the fat devour. The spleen, tint honour, and affronted pride, Stang like the sharpest goads in gentry's side. The gout and gravel, and the ill disease, Are frequentest wi' fowk o'er laid wi' ease While o'er the moor the shepherd wi' less care, Enjoys his sober wish, and halesome air.
Roger. Lord, man! I wonder ay; and it delights My heart, whene'er I hearken to your flights:
How gat ye a' this sense, I fain wad lear,
That I may easier disappointments bear?
Patie. Frae books, the wale of books, I gat some skill,
Thae best can teach what 's real good and ill;
Ne'er grudge ilk year to ware some stanes of cheese,
To gain those silent friends that ever please.
Roger. I'll do 't, and ye shall tell me whilk to buy;
Faith I'se hae books, tho' I shou'd sell my ky;
But now let's hear how you're design'd to move,
Between Sir William's will and Peggy's love.
Patie. Then here it lies-his will maun be obey'd,
My vows I'll keep, and she shall be
my bride e; But I sometime this last design maun hide.
Keep you the secret close, and leave me here;
I sent for Peggy-yonder comes my dear.
Roger. Pleas'd that ye trust me wi' the secret, I
To wyle it frae me a' the de'ils defy.
[Exit. Patie. [Solus.] Wi' what a struggle maun I now impart,
My father's will to her that hauds my heart;
I ken she lo'es, and her saft saul will sink,
While it stands trembling on the hated brink
Of disappointment-Heaven support my fair,
And let her comfort claim your tender care:-
Her eyes are red!-
PEGGY enters.
-My Peggy, why in tears?
Smile as ye wont, allow nae room for fears,
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