6
ELEGY ON JAMIE GEMMELL.
Knights of thumle far an near,
Unto my tale pray lend an ear,
It frae your e'e will draw a tear
Wi' muekle speed,
As soon the waefu' tale ye hear,
That Jamie's dead.
O reader, cam' he e'er to thee,
An' winkin' at you wi' his e'e,
Saying, Will tu gie me a bawbee
To get a glass?
For whilk ye wad in a moment see
Him on his arse?
Or bae ye seen him on the street,
Wi' twa auld bauchles on his feet,
Gaun toddlin' through the rain and weet,
Like wan‘ring Jew,
To see gin he wad chance to meet
A frien' sae true,
As bid him come and get a gill,
Or yet a drink of nappy yill?
For Jamie weel could drink his fill
Oʻ them I trew,
And laith was he to rise, nntil
He did get fou.
Or hae ye seen him sittin' crackin
In Tammy's tap-room ower a chapin'?
For to keep as the company lauchin
He wasna laith,
By tellin' them he breeks wad mak' them
Without the claith.
