Sae far inscribing, Sir, to you, This country sang, my fancy flew, Keen your just merit to pursue; But ah! I fear, In giving praises that are due, I grate your ear. Yet tent a poet's zealous pray'r; May powers aboon, with kindly care, Grant you a lang and muckle skair Of a' that's good, Till unto langest life and mair You've healthfu' stood. May never care your blessings sowr, And may the muses, ilka hour, Improve your mind, and haunt your bow'r; I'm but a callan: Yet may I please you, while I'm your Devoted _Allan_. THE PERSONS. MEN. SIR WILLIAM WORTHY. PATIE, the Gentle Shepherd, in love with Peggy. ROGER, a rich young shepherd, in love with Jenny. SYMON, } two old shepherds, tenants to Sir William. GLAUD, } BAULDY, a hynd engaged with Neps. WOMEN. PEGGY, thought to be Glaud's niece. JENNY, Glaud's only daughter. MAUSE, an old woman, supposed to be a witch. ELSPA, Symon's wife. MADGE, Glaud's sister. SCENE.--A Shepherd's Village, and Fields some few miles from Edinburgh. _Time of Action within twenty hours._ First act begins at eight in the morning. Second act begins at eleven in the forenoon. Third act begins at four in the afternoon. Fourth act begins at nine o'clock at night. Fifth act begins by day light next morning. THE GENTLE SHEPHERD. ACT FIRST. _SCENE I._ Beneath the south-side of a craigy beild, Where crystal springs the halesome waters yield, Twa youthful shepherds on the gowans lay, Tenting their flocks ae bonny morn of May. Poor Roger granes, till hollow echoes ring; But blyther Patie likes to laugh and sing. PATIE _and_ ROGER. SANG I.--The wawking of the fauld. PATIE sings. _My_ Peggy _is a young thing, Just enter'd in her teens, Fair as the day, and sweet as May, Fair as the day, and always gay. My_ Peggy _is a young thing, And I'm not very auld; Yet well I like to meet her, at The wawking of the fauld._ _My_ Peggy _speaks sae sweetly, Whene'er we meet alane, I wish nae mair to lay my care, I wish nae mair of a' that's rare. My_ Peggy _speaks sae sweetly, To a' the lave I'm cauld; But she gars a' my spirits glow At wawking of the fauld._ _My_ Peggy _smiles sae kindly, Whene'er I whisper love, That I look down on a' the town, That I look down upon a crown. My_ Peggy _smiles sae kindly, It makes me blyth and bauld; And naething gi'es me sic delight, As wawking of the fauld._