(Patie's health goes round.)
Old Symon, by the request of the spaeman, goes out to meet him, and they have much conversation together. At length—
"Sir William drops his masking beard,
Symon transported sees
The welcome knight, wi' fond regard,
An' grasps him round the knees."
They converse concerning Patie, who is actually Sir William's son and heir, and agree to make known his true position. This is accordingly done, and produces great excitement among the parties. Patie is glad and sorrowful at the same time, and Peggy sees nothing in it but disappointment and grief. A gulf has intervened between her and Patie, and she feels that she must give him up for ever. But Patie assures her of his constant affection, and the "puir thing" absolutely "greets for joy to hear his words sae kind."
Next morning—
"While Peggy laces up her bosom fair
Wi' a blue snood, Jenny binds up her hair;
Glaud by his morning ingle, taks a beek,[43]
The rising sun shines motty[44] thro' the reek,[45]
A pipe his mouth, the lasses please his een,
An' now and then his joke must intervene."
But all parties are sent for to Symon's house—
"To hear and help to redd[46] some odd debate
'Tween Mause and Bauldy, 'bout some witchcraft spell,
At Symon's house: the knight sits judge himsell."
All then are assembled—
"Sir William fills the twa armed chair,
While Symon, Roger, Glaud, and Mause,
Attend, and wi' loud laughter hear
Daft Bauldy bluntly plead his cause:
For now it's tell'd him that the taz[47]
Was handled by revengeful Madge,
Because he brak guid breeding's laws,
And wi' his nonsense raised their rage.