Wad think I learn’d the hale o’t in a week.

Weel up in Scotch, I set mysel’ to wark

To strip the Poet to his very sark,

An’ gie the warld a pictur’ o’ the Man

An’ a’ his Doin’s—on the cut-throat plan.

My book, gat up regairdless o’ expense,

Was hailed the book by ilka man o’ sense;

Some “half-read” gowks ayont the Tweed micht sneer,

An’ name mysel’ in words no’ fit to hear;

I only leuch. The man himsel’ was deid—