" O my dear master, dinna greet ; 



What hae I ever done to vex thee ? 

 See here I'm cowrin' at your feet ; 



Just take my life, if I perplex thee. 



" For a' my toil, my wee drap meat 



Is a' the wage I ask of thee ; 

 For whilk I'm oft obliged to wait 



Wi' hungry wame an' patient e'e. 



" Whatever wayward course ye steer ; 



Whatever sad mischance o'ertake ye ; 

 Man, here is ane will hold ye dear ! 



Man, here is ane will ne'er forsake ye ! " 



Yes, my puir beast, though friends me scorn, 

 Whom mair than life I valued dear ; 



An' throw me out to fight forlorn, 

 Wi' ills my heart do hardly bear, — 



While I hae thee to bear a part — 



My health, my plaid, an' heezle rung, — 



I'll scorn th' unfeeling haughty heart, 

 The saucy look, and slanderous tongue. 



Some friends, by pop'lar envy swayed, 

 Are ten times waur than ony foe ! 



My heart was theirs : an' to them laid 

 As open as the light o day. 

 I ii i 



