But I hae tried the Border Knight,
And I'll try him yet again.
17 Says Black Joan frae Crichton Peel,
A carline stoor and grim,
The auld guidman, and the young guidman,
For me may sink or swim;
18 For fools will freit o' right or wrang,
While knaves laugh them to scorn;
But the sodger's friends hae blawn the best,
So he shall bear the horn.
19 Then Whisky Jean spak owre her drink,
Ye weel ken, kimmers a',
The auld guidman o' Lon'on court,
His back's been at the wa';
20 And mony a friend that kiss'd his cup,
Is now a fremit wight:
But it's ne'er be said o' Whisky Jean-
I'll send the Border Knight.
21 Then slow raise Marjory o' the Lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow,
Her ancient weed was russet gray,
Her auld Scots bluid was true:
22 There's some great folks set light by meI set as light by them;
But I will sen' to Lon'on town
Wham I like best at hame.
23 Sae how this weighty plea may end,
Nae mortal wight can tell:
God grant the King and ilka man
May look weel to himsel'.
BALLAD II.-WRITTEN IN 1795.
TUNE- For a' that, and a' that.'
1 WHOм will ye send to London town,
To parliament and a' that?
Or whom in a' the country roun'
The best deserves to fa' that?
For a' that, and a' that,
Through Galloway, and a' that;
Where is the laird or belted knight
That best deserves to fa' that?
2 Wha sees Kerroughtree's open yett?
And wha is 't never saw that?
Wha ever wi' Kerroughtree 's met,
And has a doubt of a' that?
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
The independent patriot,
The honest man, and a' that.
3 Though wit and worth, in either sex,
St Mary's Isle can shaw that;
Wi' dukes and lords let Selkirk mix,
And weel does Selkirk fa' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
The independent commoner
Shall be the man for a' that.
4 But why should we to nobles jouk ?
And is 't against the law that?
For why, a lord may be a gouk,
Wi' ribbon, star, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
A lord may be a lousy loon,
Wi' ribbon, star, and a' that.
5 A beardless boy comes o'er the hills,
Wi' uncle's purse, and a' that;
But we'll hae ane frae 'mang oursels,
A man we ken, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
For we're not to be bought or sold,
Like naigs and nowte, and a' that.
6 Then let us drink the Stewartry,
Kerroughtree's laird, and a' that,
Our representative to be,
For weel he's worthy a' that,
For a' that, and a' that.
Here's Heron yet for a' that!
A House o' Commons such as he,
They wad be blest that saw that.
TUNE-Fy, let's a' to the Bridal
1 Fr, let us a' to Kirkcudbright,
For there will be bickerin' there;
For Murray's light horse are to muster,
And, oh, how the heroes will swear!
And there will be Murray commander,
And Gordon the battle to win;
Like brothers they'll stand by each other,
Sae knit in alliance are kin.
2 And there will be black-nebbit Johnnie,
The tongue o' the trump to them a';
An he getna hell for his troddin',
The deil gets nae justice ava.
And there will be Kempleton's birkie,
A boy no sae black at the bane ;
But as to his fine nabob fortune,
We'll e'en let this subject alane.
3 And there will be Wigton's new sheriff,
Dame Justice fu' brawly has sped;
She's gotten the heart of a Bushby,
But what has become o' the head?
And there will be Cardoness, Esquire,
Sae mighty in Cardoness' eyes,
A wight that will weather damnation-
The devil the prey will despise.
4 And there will be Douglasses doughty,
New christening towns far and near,
Abjuring their democrat doings,
By kissin' the a- of a peer.
And there will be Kenmure sae generous !
Whase honour is proof to the storm ;
To save them from stark reprobation,
He lent them his name to the firm.
5 But we winna mention Redcastle,
The body, e'en let him escape;
He'd venture the gallows for siller,
An 'twere na the cost o' the rape.
And where is our king's lord-lieutenant,
Sae famed for his gratefu' return?
The billie is gettin' his questions,
To say in Saint Stephen's the morn.
6 And there will be lads o' the gospel,
Muirhead, wha's as gude as he's true; And there will be Buittle's apostle,
Wha 's mair o' the black than the blue; And there will be folk frae St Mary's, A house of great merit and note; The deil ane but honours them highly
The deil ane will give them his vote.
7 And there will be wealthy young Richard-
Dame Fortune should hing by the neck
For prodigal, thoughtless bestowing-
His merit had won him respect.
And there will be rich brother nabobs,
Though nabobs, yet men o' the first;
And there will be Colliston's whiskers,
And Quentin, o' lads not the worst.
8 And there will be Stamp-office Johnnie,
Tak tent how ye purchase a dram;
And there will be gay Cassencarie,
And there will be gleg Colonel Tam.
And there will be trusty Kerroughtree,
Wha's honour was ever his law;
If the virtues were pack'd in a parcel,
His worth might be sample for a'.
9 And can we forget the auld Major,
Wha'll ne'er be forgot in the Greys?
Our flattery we'll keep for some ither,
Him it's only justice to praise.
And there will be maiden Kilkerran,
And also Barskimming's gude knight;
''Muirhead:' of Urr-see 'Life.'
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