Burnbanks Farewel to Edin-
burgh, at his Departure for the
Indies, with his last Will and
Testament.
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WAES me, auld Reikie, we man part,
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Bare is my Pouch, and sare my Heart,
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Tho I was anes thought unko smart,
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And fow oWiles,
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Alake, auld Nick, wi his black Art,
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Wise Folk beguiles!
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2. My Bennison light on them a,
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Speaks good of me when Im awa.
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Wae worth the Judges o the Law,
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Cald be their Cast,
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The blackest Sight that eer I saw,
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Theyve provd at last.
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3. Anes in a Day I thought my sell,
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Sae very sicker, and sae fell,
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I could outwit the Deil in Hell,
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Cunning is he,
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Wi meikle Shame, Im forcd to tell,
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Hes cheated me.
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4. Ye wonnie find the like o me,
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Betwixt Kirkcudbright and Dundee;
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For cliver was I at a Plea,
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As ere ye saw,
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Frae a the Rakes I bore the Gree,
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And dang them a.
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5. Tho I look grave as Prophet Samuel,
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And am a feckless, ill grown Bramble,
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Yet, when I got upon the Ramble,
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Take ye my Word,
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The prettiest Man feard Jamie Campbell,
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Wi his short Sword.
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6. Yae Day I met with Colonel Vauss,
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A Man amest as bigs the Bass;
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And cause I could not reach his Hass,
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I prickd his Wame,
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I true, the Colonel got his Pass,
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Went cripling Hame.
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7. But now sen I mun make a Trip,
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Il een contrive to cheat the Ship,
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And when Ive playd a souple Slip,
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Never fear it,
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Ill to the Madagascars skip,
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And turn Pyrate.
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8. Yell hear good News o me, I hope,
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Il be as great a Mans the Pope,
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For to deceive was ay my Scope,
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Folk muny starve,
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L---d keep my Neck lang frae the Rope,
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I well deserve.
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My last WILL.
IN Case that I be drownd or hangd;
That nane of a my Friends be wrangd,
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I leave a Gear that ere belangd
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To me in Life,
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Amang the Women that Ive bangd,
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Except my Wife.
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2. Out o the readiest o my Gear,
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Five Shillings, and the Breeks I wear,
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To Thomas Shiels the Bombardier,
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To slocken Drouth;
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No out of Kindness, but for Fear
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He tell the Truth.
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3. I leave Law Pleas to Ross o Neuck,
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Whose bonny Castle Post I took.
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And nathing paid, by Hook or Crook,
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I was sae slim;
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My Malison to Pennecuick,
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The plague rot him.
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4. A wally Testimonial he
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Has to the Indians sent wi me,
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I hope to meet him ere I die,
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Hell change his Tune,
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Il gar him meikle Penance dree,
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For what hes done.
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5. To Robin Roy, my Highland Durk,
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Wi which I aft made bloodly Work,
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And fought wi Messengers (like Turk,)
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and Georde Young,
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Wha said my Head was light like Cork,
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But now Im dung.
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6. Because I dare na well deny,
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I cheated Lethem and Mkay,
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Whose Heirs will curse me till they dye,
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Ill Counsel give,
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To go alongst wi me for I,
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Will make them live.
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7. As for the Bairns of Sandy Scot,
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Whom I trickt out of every Grot,
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I leave to them my auld Plush Coat,
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Twas anes bren new;
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The Way I gat it wha knows not?
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Which some Folk rue.
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8. Now, Fare ye well, my dainty Kate,
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I lovd ye ay ye ged so fet:
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And if the Warld dinno mend,
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Come to me, and well make a Fend:
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Ye need nae fear; for your daft End,
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And my wise Head,
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Are Things by which we may depend
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To win our Bread.
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