Burlesque Laent Fr The Absene Of Will
burlesque lament for the absence of william creech, publisher
auld chuckie reekie's sair distrest,
down droops her ance weel burnish'd crest,
nae joy her bonie buskit
yield ava,
her darling bird that she lo'es best—
willie's awa!
o willie was a witty wight,
and had o' things an unco' sleight,
auld reekie aye he keepit tight,
and trig an' braw:
but now they'll busk her like a fright,—
willie's awa!
the stiffest o' them a' he bow'd,
the bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;
they durst nae mair than he allow'd,
that was a law:
we've lost a birkie weel wowd;
willie's awa!
now gawkies, tawpies, gowks and fools,
frae colleges and b schools,
may sprout like simmer puddock-stools
in glen or shaw;
he wha could brush them down to mools—
willie's awa!
the brethren o' the erce-chaumer
may mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour;
he was a diar and grammar
among them a';
i fear they'll now mak mony a stammer;
willie's awa!
nae mair we see his levee door
philosophers and poets pour,
and toothy critics by the score,
in bloody raw!
the adjutant o' a' the core—
willie's awa!
now worthy gregory's latin face,
tytler's and greenfield's modest grace;
mazie, stewart, such a brace
as rome ne'er saw;
they a' mau some ither place,
willie's awa!
poor burns ev'n scotch drink a qui,
he cheeps like some bewilder'd chi
scar'd frae it's minnie and the cle,
by hoodie-craw;
grieg's gien his heart an unco ki,
willie's awa!
now ev'ry sour-mou'd girnin blellum,
and calvin's folk, are fit to fell him;
ilk self-ceited critic skellum
his quill may draw;
he wha could brawlie ward their bellum—
willie's awa!
up wimpling stately tweed i've sped,
and eden ses on crystal jed,
arick banks, now r red,
while tempests blaw;
but every joy and pleasure's fled,
willie's awa!
may i be slander's on speech;
a text for infamy to preach;
and lastly, streekit out to bleach
in winter snaw;
when i fet thee, willie creech,
tho' far awa!
may never wicked fortuouzle him!
may never wicked men bamboozle him!
until a pow as auld's methusalem
he ty claw!
then to the blessed new jerusalem,
fleet wing awa!
auld chuckie reekie's sair distrest,
down droops her ance weel burnish'd crest,
nae joy her bonie buskit
yield ava,
her darling bird that she lo'es best—
willie's awa!
o willie was a witty wight,
and had o' things an unco' sleight,
auld reekie aye he keepit tight,
and trig an' braw:
but now they'll busk her like a fright,—
willie's awa!
the stiffest o' them a' he bow'd,
the bauldest o' them a' he cow'd;
they durst nae mair than he allow'd,
that was a law:
we've lost a birkie weel wowd;
willie's awa!
now gawkies, tawpies, gowks and fools,
frae colleges and b schools,
may sprout like simmer puddock-stools
in glen or shaw;
he wha could brush them down to mools—
willie's awa!
the brethren o' the erce-chaumer
may mourn their loss wi' doolfu' clamour;
he was a diar and grammar
among them a';
i fear they'll now mak mony a stammer;
willie's awa!
nae mair we see his levee door
philosophers and poets pour,
and toothy critics by the score,
in bloody raw!
the adjutant o' a' the core—
willie's awa!
now worthy gregory's latin face,
tytler's and greenfield's modest grace;
mazie, stewart, such a brace
as rome ne'er saw;
they a' mau some ither place,
willie's awa!
poor burns ev'n scotch drink a qui,
he cheeps like some bewilder'd chi
scar'd frae it's minnie and the cle,
by hoodie-craw;
grieg's gien his heart an unco ki,
willie's awa!
now ev'ry sour-mou'd girnin blellum,
and calvin's folk, are fit to fell him;
ilk self-ceited critic skellum
his quill may draw;
he wha could brawlie ward their bellum—
willie's awa!
up wimpling stately tweed i've sped,
and eden ses on crystal jed,
arick banks, now r red,
while tempests blaw;
but every joy and pleasure's fled,
willie's awa!
may i be slander's on speech;
a text for infamy to preach;
and lastly, streekit out to bleach
in winter snaw;
when i fet thee, willie creech,
tho' far awa!
may never wicked fortuouzle him!
may never wicked men bamboozle him!
until a pow as auld's methusalem
he ty claw!
then to the blessed new jerusalem,
fleet wing awa!