"I've seen mair mice than you, guidman,—
An' what think ye o' that?
Sae haud your tongue, an' say nae mair,
I tell ye, it was a rat!"
"Me haud my tongue for you, guidwife!
I'll be mester o' this hoose:
I saw't as plain as een could seet,
An' I tell ye, it was a moose!"
"If you're the mester o' the hoose,
It's I'm the mistress o't;
An' I ken best what's in the hoose:
Sae I tell ye, it was a rat!"
"Weel, weel, guidwife, gae mak' the brose,
An' ca' it what ye please."
So up she rose, and made the brose,
While John sat toasting his taes.
They supit, and supit, and supit the brose,
And aye their lips played smack:
They supit, and supit, and supit the brose,
Till their lugs began to crack.
"Sic fules we were to fa' oot, guidwife,
Aboot a moose."—"A what?
It's a lee ye tell; an' I say again
It was'na a moose; 'twas a rat!"
"Wad ye ca' me a leear to my very face?
My faith, but ye craw croose!
I tell ye, Tib, I never will bear't!
'Twas a moose!"—"'Twas a rat!"—"'Twas a moose!"
Wi' her spoon she strack him ower the pow.
"Ye dour auld doit, tak' that;
Gae to your bed, ye canker'd sumph,—
'Twas a rat!"—"'Twas a moose!"—"'Twas a rat!"
She sent the brose caup at his heels,
As he hirpled ben the hoose;
Yet he shoved oot his head as he steekit the door,
And cried, "'Twas a moose! 'twas a moose!"
But when the carle was fast asleep,
She paid him back for that,
And roared into his sleepin' lug,
"'Twas a rat! 'twas a rat! 'twas a rat!"