“Vina liques, et spatio brevi
Spen longam reseces.” – CAR. I., II.
IT wasna meant that mortal men
Should read the deevil’s books to ken
(What they can never comprehen’)
The secret o’ their hinner en’.
–
The nobler gate o’t were to spen’
The scriptural threescore years an’ ten,
Or less or mair, as Heaven may sen’,
In present duty to the en’.
–
For, let us sum up what we ken;
The present – weel, that’s oors to spen;
The past – that canna come agen;
The future – that’s for Heaven to len’.
–
Than this, we’ll get nae farrer ben;
An’ sae, like reasonable men,
Let’s keep oor hopes within oor ken;
An’ noo – produce the tappit hen!
