Last speech of the farmer's colly/Last speech of the farmer's colly

THE COLLY'S LAST SPEECH.

DRAW near each true and trusty cur,
And hear what I'm convicted for,
Though I'm condemned by dint o' law,
Devised by men I never saw,
Yet I declare ⟨the⟩ truth to you,
The crime is what I never knew,
My days I spent them kind and free,
And now has nought to do but die.
Draw near my ⟨honest⟩ neighbour tikes,
With whom I ⟨swiftly⟩ loupt the dykes,
And ranted money a merry ⟨day⟩,
Yet parted a’ in game. and play;
Monie’s the night we met on guard,
To watch the ⟨poultry⟩ and the yard;
And ⟨in⟩ invasion did appear,
We set the ⟨garrison asteer⟩;
When the first ⟨sentinel⟩ discharg'd a bark,
Our muster'd guards though e'er so dark
Would rally forth their warlike lore,
An set ⟨the⟩ town in an uproar;
But ⟨now⟩ frae either we must part,
Or else fu' dearly pay the sin it.
For though we’re o' the meaner sort
Our names were lately ⟨call'd⟩ in court,
When we were tried by course o' law,
And sentence pass'd upon us a'.
My ⟨kindly⟩ frien's ⟨that⟩ now looks ⟨won⟩
And greets me on this doleful day;
Though ⟨i'm⟩ the first ⟨that⟩ gets the cast,
Ye need na ⟨think⟩ I'll ⟨be the last⟩:
There's monie ⟨mare their⟩ lives will lack,
In virtue of the new ⟨made⟩ act,
In honour, I the list commence,
Submits to ⟨fare⟩ without defence,
And camely yields to time my breath,
A victim to proud ⟨statesmans⟩ wrath.
Who aft thinks fit to take so free,
As take the thing they ne'er ⟨could⟩ gi'e,
Poor simple Dogs 'tis time to dread,
There's now a price set on your head,
And few has had the luck to miss,
Was brand wi' sicko mark as this,
Oh' a' the tricks in ⟨world's⟩ trash,
The highest triumphs the ready cash.
And though the trifle is but sma',
⟨It⟩ adds to bulk when ⟨gathered⟩ a'.
And some would tell on you and me,
For shilling, ⟨less⟩ then ⟨twa⟩ or three;
Yet I hae something mair to say,
And tell the ⟨proudest⟩ m———h o' the day,
That I was form'd by the ⟨same⟩ han'
Which made the k—g o every land,
And that by nature I am free,
And ⟨filled⟩ my ⟨place⟩ as well as he
For I ⟨remain'd⟩ as I ⟨was made⟩,
And natur e's law had still obey'd,
Till man by guilt was forst to flee,
And brought the curse to light on me.
⟨Farewell⟩ to thee my master dear,
Although my execution (illegible text);
⟨Ne'er⟩ fret at what behappens me,
Most freely I do thee forgie,
And rather gie thee great applause.
⟨Since it⟩ fulfils the nations laws
Ne'er stap though folk should thee defame
And ca' thee monie a filthy name,
For if you live you'll shortly see
They'll mair put to thier ⟨hand⟩ than thee,
Now I have little more to add,
⟨Although⟩ my fortune it is bad;
I ne'er intent for to repine
But freely ⟨does⟩ my life resign,
A victim to that new made law,
By ⟨which⟩ the fame is ta'en awa',
My ⟨honest friends⟩ that's firm and true,
I bid ⟨you all⟩ a fond adieu;
In ⟨hopes you'll⟩ raise my memory
Above the slave of mean degree;
Whos heart would shrink the truth to tell
For fear ⟨of⟩ danger to their sel';
As free I lived to free I'll die.
The nation's purse may starve for me.