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, Now they're crouse? and cantie3 baith; 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! What is title? what is treasure? 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 Contented wi' little, and canties wi' mair, Whene'er I forgather wi' Sorrow and Care, 1 smothered. 'trulls. 16 gold. ale. 12 lot. 15 stagger. 17 homespun grey. WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827) From SONGS OF INNOCENCE INTRODUCTION Piping down the valleys wild, 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 |