Burns: That’s—I’ll not say what it is, Mr. Armour. Ask Jean. She loves me. We’re proud of it, if you would let us be.
Armour: Proud of it, you Barbary sheep! The girl’s a scandal to my name, but she’s not for you. Let her be proud of it alone.
Holy Willie: I told you of this, young man. I preached the light to you.
Burns: Good counsel from you would corrupt the saints, minister. Why won’t you let me wed Jean, Mr. Armour?
Armour: I came to give no reasons, Robert Burns. I came to see you knew the choice rightly. You can pay, or you can feel handcuffs, or you can go where you’ll never offend honest Scots eyes with the sight of you more.
Holy Willie: And whichever you choose, you’ll first do penance in kirk for an incontinent sinner. It is the kirk’s will.
Burns: Let him that is without sin, minister—but let that go. Again, Mr. Armour, I ask it in good faith, let me take Jean to church. There’ll be no penance in that, but hope and goodwill, I promise it.
Armour: You’ve no virtue, but if you were made of it, I’ld say no still. You’ve not rank enough for the Armours.
Burns: Rank, rank, rank! Then destroy her and destroy me, and ask your holy friend here to pray God to show you your own black and proud and silly heart. Fill up my pot, Nell.
[As she does so, the Factor is about to leave, but seeing Tam Laurie, goes across to him.]