TAM O' SHANTER. 5 She prophesy'd, that late or soon, Thou would be found deep drown'd in Doon; Or catch'd wi' warlocks in the mirk, By Alloway's auld haunted kirk. Ah! gentle dames! it gars me greet, To think how mony counsels sweet, How mony lengthen'd, sage advices, The husband frae the wife despises ! But to our tale: Ae market night, Tam had got planted unco right, Wi' reaming swats, that drank divinely; His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony ; Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither; They had been fou for weeks thegither. And aye the ale was growing better: B 2 The landlady and Tam grew gracious; Wi' favours, secret, sweet, and precious: The landlord's laugh was ready chorus: Care, mad to see a man sae happy, But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow-falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever; Or like the borealis race, That flit ere you can point their place; |