Robert Burns

The Mauchline Wedding

   (Fragment)

1.

When Eighty-five was seven month auld,
     And wearing thro the aught,
When rotting rains and Boreas bauld
     Gied farmer-folks a faught;
Ae morning quondam Mason Will,
     Now Merchant Master Miller,
Gaed down to meet wi’ Nansie B***
     And her Jamaica siller,
     To wed, that day.

2.

The rising sun o'er Blacksideen
     Was just appearing fairly,
When Nell and Bess got up to dress
     Seven lang half-hours o'er early!
Now presses clink and drawers jink,
     For linnens and for laces;
But modest Muses only think
     What ladies' underdress is,
     On sic a day.

3.

But we'll suppose the stays are lac'd,
     And bony bosoms steekit;
Tho, thro the lawn — but guess the rest…
     An Angel scarce durst keek it:
Then stockins fine, o silken twine,
     Wi cannie care are drawn up;
And gartened tight, whare mortal wight
............................................................
............................................................

4.

But now the gown wi’ rustling sound,
     Its silken pomp displays;
Sure there's no sin in being vain
     O siccan bony claes:
Sae jimp the waist, the tail sae vast!—
     Trouth, they were bony Birdies!
O Mither Eve, ye wad been grave
     To see their ample hurdies
     Sae large that day!

5.

Then Sandy wi's red jacket braw
     Comes, whip-jee-whoa! about,
And in he gets the bony twa —
     Lord send them safely out!
And auld John Trot wi’ sober phiz
     As braid and braw's a Bailie,
His shouthers and his Sunday's giz
     Wi powther and wi’ ulzie
     Weel smear'd that day.