TO LUATH
(Robert Burns's Dog)
"Darling Jean" was Jean Armour, a "comely country lass" whom Burns met at a penny wedding at Mauchline. They chanced to be dancing in the same quadrille when the poet's dog sprang to his master and almost upset some of the dancers. Burns remarked that he wished he could get any of the lasses to like him as well as his dog did.
Some days afterward, Jean, seeing him pass as she was bleaching clothes on the village green, called to him and asked him if he had yet got any of the lasses to like him as well as his dog did.
That was the beginning of an acquaintance that coloured all of Burns's life. —Nathan Haskell Dole.
Well, Luath, man, when you came prancing
All glee to see your Robin dancing,
His partner's muslin gown mischancing
You leaped for joy!
You caused, my boy!
Was put to flight—
You wagged that night!
His breast went bang!
He felt the pang!
To be less fickle!
And grievous prickle!
And gambolled too,
Was due to you!
By greenside came,
And yours the blame!