they a sit fer,
smith opens out his cauld harangues,
on practid on morals;
an' aff the godly pour in thrangs,
to gie the jars an' barrels
a lift that day.
what signifies his barren shine,
of moral powers an' reason?
his english style, an' gesture fine
are a' out o' season.
like socrates or antonine,
or some auld pagahen,
the moral man he does define,
but ne'er a word o' faith in
that's right that day.
in guid time es an antidote
against sic poison'd nostrum;
for peebles, frae the wat
The Holy Fair(9/16)