[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
GIN ye meet a bony lassie,
Gi’e her a kiss, and let her gae;
But if ye meet a dirty hussy,
Fy gar rub her o’er wi’ strae.
–
Be sure ye dinna quat the grip
Of ilka joy, when ye are young,
Before auld age your vitals nip,
And lay ye twafald o’er a rung.
–
Sweet youth’s a blyth and heartsome time;
Then, lads and lasses, while ‘tis May,
Gae pu’ the gowan in its prime,
Before it wither and decay.
–
Watch the saft minutes of delyte,
When Jenny speaks beneath her breath,
And kisses, laying a’ the wyte
On you, if she kepp ony fyaith.
–
Haith ye’re ill-bred, she’ll smiling say,
Ye’ll worry me, ye greedy rook;
Syne frae your arms she’ll rin away,
And hide herself in some dark nook.
–
Her laugh will lead you to the place,
Where lyes the happiness ye want,
And plainly tell you to your face,
Nineteen na-says are haff a grant.
–
Now to her heaving bosom cling,
And sweetly toolie for a kiss:
Frae her fair finger whoop a ring,
As taiken of a future bliss.
–
These bennisons, I’m very sure,
Are of the Gods indulgent grant:
Then, surly carles, whisht, forbear
To plauge us with your whinning cant.
