3
(Speaking to the Presidents)
This question, Sir, has been right weil dispate
And meikle, weel-a-wat’s been said about it;
Thiels, that precisely to the point can speak,
And gallop o’er lang blauds of kittle Greek,
Ia’e sent frae ilka side their aharpe opinion,
And peel’d it up as ane wad peel an ingen*.
I winna plague you lang wi’ my poor spale,
But only crave your patience to a Tale:
By which ye’ll ken on whatna side I’m stinnin’,
As I perceive your hindmost minute’s rinnin’.
THE TALE.
There liv’d in Fife, an auld, stout, warldly ehiel,
Wha’s stomach kend nae fare but milk and meal;
A wife he had, I think they ca’d her Bell,
And twa big sons, amaist as heigh’s himsel,
Rab was a gleg, smart cock, with powdered pash,
Ringan, a slow, fear’d, bashfu’, simple hash,
* The question had been spoken up on both sides before this Tae
as recited, which was the last opinion given on the debate.
