GRAY's ELLEGIE
WITH HIS
Own Conceity ANSWER.
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1 AND has ald Death e'n come at last
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and of his Craft ge'n Gray a cast,
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Without Respect to Aull or last
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For ought I hear,
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Tho' he were Dead ther's no much lost
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Nay find a Tear.
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2 His Parents I did ken fow' well,
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indeed was better nor him-sell,
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But for a Truth I cannot tell
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How auld was he,
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E'n ask his Meed-wife Jannie Beell,
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She winny Lie.
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3 With Willie Mathew he was bred,
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a purpose for to learn a Trade,
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But a the Wives in the Moor side,
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Had little Peace,
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But now into his Grave he's laid
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That crost their Fate.
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4 O But he was a cruel Knave,
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skull Davies Dog and a the leave
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They were not sure an Hour to live,
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nor half O that,
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He Chaste, he Stond, he sought no leave
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To beat their Back.
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5 He left Monross his Native Land,
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and Betty too I understand,
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With ne'r a Penny in her Hand
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Nor Credit had,
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Ther's no great Miss tho' Death command
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This roving Blade.
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6 This Gray he had a virtuous Wife,
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was carefull of him all his Life,
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Poor Woman she had mikle Grief
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ay while he Liv'd,
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But now of Sorrow, Sturt and Strife
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She's e'n reliev'd
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7 A Right good Shoe he cou'd a made,
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But very careless O' his Trade,
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O mikle ado poor Bettie had
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To make him Wirk,
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This lasie Loun in Grave is laid
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There let him Lurk,
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8 When he woud to the Ale-house tour
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there he would clash and drink an Hour,
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He nee'r forgot you may be sure
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The News to read,
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Nor did he let the Ale grow Sower,
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That's true indeed.
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9 Forsooth he was a gelly Gose,
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the Tippony about did toss,
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And with good Fellows took his Doss
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of Ale you ken.
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But now the Ale-Wives at a loss
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Fin care O' them.
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10 For Honnest Betty mony a Day,
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has wish't that a their Bungs were dry,
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But wou'd you ken the Reason why,
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He stay'd our Lang
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And this did Cross Poor Betty ay.
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when she was Thrang
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1 WHAT Raskal's this dar be so bold,
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me for to Hector so and Scold
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That thinks my faillings to unfold
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Which doth me grieve
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For I am neither Dead nor Old,
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But we your Leave.
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2 Is Louden Folks sick Fools think ye,
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will they go Thirty Miles and three,
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To ask the Dead how old I be,
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That's Jannie Beell,
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That she can neither Speak nor Lie,
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They ken fow well.
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3 It's true I unto Mathew went,
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to learn a Trade was my Intent,
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But Wives more cross then Dogs in Lent
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it's there did dwell,
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To make them gree much Time I spent
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Themselves can tell.
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4 How cou'd I be a cruel Knave,
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to Davie's Dog and a the lave
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They eat our Hides which did us grive
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or they were Tan'd
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To Thieves I'm sure if Justice give,
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They should be Hang'd
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5 I pray you Sir how do you ken,
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what Money in her Purse was then
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Be carefull ay folks Name to stain
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Out fy for Shame,
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Let Charity with you remain
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look ay at Hame,
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6 It's true I have a Virtuous Wife
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loves me as she do's her Life,
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Sure you would give her no Relief
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Gin I were Dead,
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No Fardle nor a Penny Loafe.
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Nay Fiend a Head.
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7 It is well kend into this Town,
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that I can make a pair of Shoon,
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Altho you say I make but an,
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And does discrave,
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Me as Give I were dead and gone,
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whose yet alive
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8 I do not think it with my Pen,
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to answer Nonsense Line by Line,
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Nor do I yet the Roason ken,
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What ailse the lown
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It's Time when I am Dead and gone
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for to begin.
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9 My Elegie it for to make,
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such balder dash to undertake
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Indeed I'm sorry for your sake
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You silly Fool,
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It shows your Judgment is but wake
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To redicoll
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10 Me with Sower Ale, or this and that,
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dry Bungs long Staying, I ken not what,
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It's a but Nonsence well I wat
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You should be whang'd,
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I do not wallow you a Plack.
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E'n go be hang'd.
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