Adam Armour’s Prayer

7An’ now Thou kens our waefu’ case;

8For Geordie’s jurr we’re in disgrace,

9Because we stang’d her through the place,

10 An’ hurt her spleuchan;

11For whilk we daurna show our face

12 Within the clachan.

13An’ now we’re dern’d in dens and hollows,

14And hunted, as was William Wallace,

15Wi’ constables-thae blackguard fallows,

16 An’ sodgers baith;

17But Gude preserve us frae the gallows,

18 That shamefu’ death!

19Auld grim black-bearded Geordie’s sel’—

20O shake him owre the mouth o’ hell!

21There let him hing, an’ roar, an’ yell

22 Wi’ hideous din,

23And if he offers to rebel,

24 Then heave him in.

25When Death comes in wi’ glimmerin blink,

26An’ tips auld drucken Nanse the wink,

27May Sautan gie her doup a clink

28 Within his yett,

29An’ fill her up wi’ brimstone drink,

30 Red-reekin het.

31Though Jock an’ hav’rel Jean are merry—

32Some devil seize them in a hurry,

33An’ waft them in th’ infernal wherry

34 Straught through the lake,

35An’ gie their hides a noble curry

36 Wi’ oil of aik!

37As for the jurr-puir worthless body!

38She’s got mischief enough already;

39Wi’ stanged hips, and buttocks bluidy

40 She’s suffer’d sair;

41But, may she wintle in a woody,

42 If she wh-e mair!