But here my muse her wing maun cower; Sic flights are far beyond her power; To sing how Nannie lap and flang[167] (A souple jade she was, and strang), And how Tam stood like are bewitched, And thought his very e'en enriched. Even Satan glowered and fidged fu' fain,[168] And hotch'd[169] and blew wi' might and main; Till first ae caper, syne[170] anither, Tam tint[171] his reason a' thegither, And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" And in an instant all was dark: And scarcely had he Maggie rallied, When out the hellish legion sallied. As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke,[172] When plundering herds assail their byke;[173] As open pussie's mortal foes, When, pop! she starts before their nose; As eager runs the market-crowd When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud. So Maggie runs, the witches follow Wi' monie an eldritch skreech and hollow, Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin'![174] In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin'! In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin': Kate soon will be a woefu' woman. Now do thy speedy utmost Meg, And win the key-stane of the brig;[175] There at them thou thy tail may toss, A running stream they dare na cross, But ere the key-stane she could make, The fient[176] a tale she had to shake, For Nannie, far before the rest, Hard upon noble Maggie pressed, And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;[177] But little wist she Maggie's mettle-- Ae spring brought aff her master hale,[178] But left behind her ain gray tail; The carlin[179] claught[180] her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. [Footnote 150: Peddler fellows.] [Footnote 151: Thirsty.] [Footnote 152: Road home.] [Footnote 153: Ale.] [Footnote 154: Full.] [Footnote 155: Uncommonly.] [Footnote 156: Swamps.] [Footnote 157: Gaps in a hedge.] [Footnote 158: One.] [Footnote 159: Good-for-nothing.] [Footnote 160: Babbling.] [Footnote 161: Gossip.] [Footnote 162: Every time corn was sent to the mill.] [Footnote 163: Driven.] [Footnote 164: Makes me weep.] [Footnote 165: Must.] [Footnote 166: Such.] [Footnote 167: Leaped and flung.] [Footnote 168: Stared and fidgeted with eagerness.] [Footnote 169: Hitched about.] [Footnote 170: Then.] [Footnote 171: Lost.] [Footnote 172: Fuss.] [Footnote 173: Hive.] [Footnote 174: Deserts.] [Footnote 175: Bridge.] [Footnote 176: Devil.] [Footnote 177: Aim.] [Footnote 178: Whole.] [Footnote 179: Hag.] [Footnote 180: Caught.] JOHN ANDERSON. John Anderson, my jo,[181] John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonnie brow was brent;[182] But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snow; But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson, my jo.