"Na," quo' Willie, "we'll him slae."

Then up and spak another young Armstrang,

"We'll gie him his batts,[[174]] and let him gae."

But up and spak the gude Laird's Jock,

The best falla in a' the cumpanie:

"Sit down thy ways a little while, Dickie,

And a piece o' thy ain cow's hough I'll gie ye."

But Dickie's heart it grew sae grit,

That the ne'er a bit o't he dought to eat—

Then was he aware of an auld peat-house,