Page:Monk and miller's wife.pdf/4

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When equal is the night and day,
And Ceres gives the schools the play,
A youth sprung frae a gentle pater,
Bred at St Andrew's alma-mater,
Ae day gaen hameward, it fell late,
And him benighted by the gate:
To lie without, pit-mirk did shore him,
He coudna see his thumb before him;
But clack—clack—clack, he heard a mill,
Whilk led him be the lugs theretill.
To tak the thread of tale alang,
This mill to Halbert did belang;
Not less this note your notice claims,
The scholar's name was Master James.

Now, smiling Muse, the prelude past,
Smoothly relate, a tale shall last
As lang as Alps and Grampian hills,
As lang as wind or water mills.

In enter'd James, Hab saw and kend him,
And offer'd kindly to befriend him
Wi' sic good cheer as he cou'd make,
Baith for his ain and father's sake.
The scholar thought himsel right sped,
And gave him thanks in terms well bred.
Quoth Hab, I canna leave my mill
As yet;———but step ye west the kill
A bowshot, and ye'll find my hame:
Gae warm ye, and crack wi' our dame