To see this flood of wit break in!
O scour about, and ca't a sin;
Stout are your lungs, your voice is loud,
And ought will pass upon the crowd."
The Ass thought this advice was right,
And bang'd away with a' his might:
Stood on a knowe among the cattle,
And furiously 'gainst wit did rattle;
Pour'd out a deluge of dull phrases;
While dogs and apes leugh and made faces.
Thus a' the angry Ass held forth
Serv'd only to augment their mirth.
THE lion and the tyger lang maintain'd
A bloody weir; at last the lion gain'd.
The royal victor strak the earth with awe,
And the four-footed world obey'd his law.
Frae ilka species deputies were sent,
To pay their homage due, and compliment
Their sov'reign liege, wha'd gar the rebels cour
And own his royal right and princely power.
After dispute, the moniest votes agree
That Reynard should address his majesty,
Ulysses-like, in name of a' the lave;
Wha thus went on:-"O prince! allow thy slave
To reese thy brave achievements and renown,
Nane but thy daring front shou'd wear the crown,
Wha art like Jove, whase thunderbolt can make
The heavens be hush, and a' the earth to shake;
Whase very gloom, if he but angry nods,
Commands a peace, and flegs th' inferior gods.
Thus thou great king, hast by thy conqu'ring paw
Gi'en earth a shog, and made thy will a law:
Thee a' the animals with fear adore,
And tremble if thou with displeasure roar;
O'er a' thou canst as eith thy sceptre sway,
As badrans can with cheeping rottans play."
This sentence vex'd the envoy Rottan sair;
He threw his gab, and girn'd; but durst nae mair;
The monarch pleas'd with Lowry, wha durst gloom?
A warrant's ordered for a good round sum,
Which Dragon, lord-chief-treasurer, must pay
To sly-tongu'd Fleechy on a certain day;
Which secretary Ape in form wrote down,
Sign'd, Lion, and a wee beneath, Baboon.-
'Tis given the Fox.-Now Bobtail, tap o' kin,
Made rich at anes, is nor to had nor bin!
He dreams of nought but pleasure, joy, and peace,
Now blest with wealth to purchase hens and geese.
Yet in his loof he hadna tell'd the gowd;
And yet the Rottan's breast with anger glow'd;
He vow'd revenge, and watch'd it night and day;
He took the tid when Lowry was away,
And thro' a hole into his closet slips,
There chews the warrant a' in little nips.
Thus what the Fox had for his flatt'ry gotten,
E'en frae a Lion, was made nought by an offended Rottan.
THE CATERPILLAR AND THE ANT.
A PENSY Ant, right trig and clean,
Came ae day whidding o'er the green;
Where, to advance her pride, she saw
A Caterpillar moving slaw.
"Good ev'n t' ye, mistress Ant," said he; "How's a' at hame? I'm blyth to s' ye!" The saucy Ant view'd him with scorn, Nor wad civilities return;
But gecking up her head, quoth she,---
"Poor animal! I pity thee;
Wha scarce can claim to be a creature,
But some experiment of Nature,
Whase silly shape displeas'd her eye,
And thus unfinish'd was flung bye.
For me, I'm made with better grace,
With active limbs, and lively face;
And cleverly can move with ease
Frae place to place where'er I please;
Can foot a minuet or a jig,
And snoov't like ony whirly-gig;
Which gars my jo aft grip my hand,
Till his heart pitty-pattys, and-
But laigh my qualities I bring,
To stand up clashing with a thing,-
A creeping thing,-the like of thee,
Not worthy of a farewell t' ye!"
The airy Ant syne turn'd awa,
And left him with a proud gaffa.
The Caterpillar was struck dumb,
And never answer'd her a mum:
The humble reptile fand some pain,
Thus to be banter'd with disdain.
But tent neist time the Ant came by,
The worm was grown a Butterfly;
Transparent were his wings and fair,
Which bare him flight'ring thro' the air;
Upon a flower he stapt his flight,
And thinking on his former slight,
Thus to the Ant himself addrest:
Pray, Madam, will ye please to rest?
And notice what I now advise:
Inferiors ne'er too much despise,
For fortune may gi'e sic a turn,
To raise aboon ye what ye scorn.
For instance, now I spread my wing
In air, while you're a creeping thing."
THE TWA CATS AND THE CHEESE.
TWA Cats anes on a cheese did light,
To which baith had an equal right;
But disputes, sic as aft arise,
Fell out a sharing of the prize.
"Fair play," said ane, "ye bite o'er thick,
Thae teeth of yours gang wonder quick!
Let's part it, else lang or the moon
Be chang'd, the kebuck will be doon."
But wha's to do't? They're parties baith,
And ane may do the other skaith.
Sae with consent away they trudge,
And laid the cheese before a judge,—
A monkey with a campsho face,
Clerk to a justice-of-the-peace.
A judge he seem'd in justice skill'd,
When he his master's chair had fill'd.
Now umpire chosen for division,
Baith sware to stand by his decision.
Demure he looks; the cheese he pales;
He prives, it's good; ca's for the scales;
His knife whops throw't, in twa it fell;
He puts ilk haff in either shell.
Said he, "We'll truly weigh the case,
And strictest justice shall have place."
Then lifting up the scales, he fand
The tane bang up, the other stand;
Syne out he took the heaviest haff,
And eat a knoost o't quickly aff;
And try'd it syne:-it now prov'd light.
"Friend Cats," said he, "we'll do ye right!"
Then to the ither haff he fell,
And laid till't teughly tooth and nail;
Till weigh'd again, it lightest prov'd.
The judge, wha this sweet process lov'd,
Still weigh'd the case, and still ate on,
Till clients baith were weary grown;
And tenting how the matter went,
Cry'd, "Come, come, Sir, we're baith content!""Ye fools!" quoth he, "and justice too "Man be content as well as you."
Thus grumbled they, thus he went on,
Till baith the haves were near-hand done.
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