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'Neist, O!' cries Halbert, 'cou'd your skillBut help us to a waught of ale,I'd be oblig'd t'ye a' my life,And offer to the deel my wife.To see if he'll discreeter mak' her,But that I'm fleed he winna tak' her.'Said James; 'Ye offer very fair,The bargain's hadden, say nae mair.'
Then thrice he shook a willow wand,With kittle words thrice gave command;That done, with look baith learn'd and grave,Said, 'Now ye'll get what we wad have;Twa bottles of as nappy liquerAs ever ream'd in horn or bicker,Behind the ark that hads your meal,Ye'll find twa standing corkit wiel.'He said, and fast the miller flew,And frae their nest the bottles drew:Then first the scholar's health he toasted,Whase art had gart him feed on roasted;His father's niest,———and a' the restOf his good friends that wish'd him best,Which were o'er langsome at the time,In a short tale, to put in rhyme.
Thus, while the miller and the youthWere blythly slock'ning of their drowth,Bess, fretting, scarcely held frae greeting,The priest inclos'd, stood vex'd and sweating.
'O wow!' said Hab, 'if ane might spear,Dear Master James, wha brought our cheer?Sic laits appear to us sae awfu',We hardly think your learning lawfu'.
'To bring your doubts to a conclusion,'Says James, 'ken I'm a Rosicrucian;Ane of the set that never carriesOn traffic with black deels or fairies;There's mony a sp'rit that's no a deel,That constantly around us wheel.
