[POINT V.]
THE JOLLY BEGGARS;
OR,
LOVE AND LIBERTY, A CANTATA.
BY ROBERT BURNS.
RECITATIVO.
When lyart leaves bestrow the yird,
Or wavering like the Bauckie-bird[1],
Bedim cauld Boreas' blast;
When hailstanes drive wi' bitter skyte,
And infant frosts begin to bite,
In hoary cranreuch drest;
Ae night at e'en a merry core
O' randie, gangrel bodies,
In Posie-Nansie's[2] held the splore[3],
To drink their orra duddies[4]:
Wi' quaffing, and laughing,
They ranted an' they sang;
Wi' jumping, an' thumping,
The vera girdle rang.
First, neist the fire, in auld red rags,
Ane sat, weel brac'd wi' mealy bags,
And knapsack a' in order;
His doxy lay within his arm,
Wi' usquebae an' blankets warm,
She blinket on her sodger:
An' ay he gies the tozie drab
The tither skelpan kiss,
While she held up her greedy gab
Just like an aumous[5] dish:
Ilk smack still, did crack still,
Just like a cadger's[6] whip;
Then staggering, an' swaggering,
He roar'd this ditty up—