Duncan was a lad o' grace,

(Ha, ha, the wooin o't!)

Maggie's was a piteous case,

(Ha, ha, the wooin o't!)

Duncan could na be her death, Swelling pity smoored1 his wrath;

Now they're crouse2 and cantie3 baith; Ha, ha, the wooin o't!

From THE JOLLY BEGGARS

See! the smoking bowl before us,

Mark our jovial ragged ring; Round and round take up the chorus, And in raptures let us sing:

CHORUS

A fig for those by law protected!
Liberty's a glorious feast!
Courts for cowards were erected,
Churches built to please the priest.

What is title? what is treasure?
What is reputation's care?
If we lead a life of pleasure,

Tis no matter, how or where!

With the ready trick and fable,

Round we wander all the day; And at night, in barn or stable, Hug our doxies on the hay.

Does the train-attended carriage Through the country lighter rove? Does the sober bed of marriage Witness brighter scenes of love?

Life is all a variorum,

We regard not how it goes; Let them cant about decorum Who have characters to lose.

Here's to budgets, bags, and wallets! Here's to all our wandering train! Here's our ragged brats and callets!4 One and all cry out, Amen!

CONTENTED WI' LITTLE AND CANTIE WI' MAIR

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hodden-gray," an' a' that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their
wine,

A man's a man for a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,

Their tinsel show, an' a' that;

The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor, 15

Is king o' men for a' that.

7 rap. 10 scratch.

happy. • associate.

16 gold.

8 bowl.

11 twelve-month.

13 makes it all up. 14 stumble.

ale.

12 lot.

15 stagger.

17 homespun grey.

WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827)

From SONGS OF INNOCENCE

INTRODUCTION

Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,

And he laughing said to me:

"Pipe a song about a Lamb!"

So I piped with merry cheer. "Piper, pipe that song again;" So I piped: he wept to hear.

"Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy cheer!" So I sung the same again,

While he wept with joy to hear.

"Piper, sit thee down and write
In a book, that all may read."
So he vanished from my sight;
And I plucked a hollow reed,

And I made a rural pen,

And I stained the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear.

THE LAMB

Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, Little Lamb, I'll tell thee: He is called by thy name, For He calls Himself a Lamb. He is meek, and He is mild; He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by His name. Little Lamb, God bless thee! Little Lamb, God bless thee!

"Love seeketh only Self to please, To bind another to its delight,

Joys in another's loss of ease,

ΙΟ