The piper loud and louder blew;
The dancers quick and quicker flew;
They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit, linked
Till ilka, carlin swat and reekit, beldam, steamed
And coost her duddies to the wark, cast, rags, work
And linkit at it in her sark! tripped deftly, chemise
Now Tam, O Tam! had thae been queans, those, girls
A' plump and strapping in their teens;
Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flannen, greasy flannel
Been snaw-white seventeen hunder linen![21]