ord be thankit, i plough;
and when i downa yoke a naig,
then, lord be thankit, i beg;
sae i shall say—an' that's 'rin—
it's just sic poet an' sic patron.
the poet, some guid angel help him,
or else, i fear, some ill ane skelp him!
he may do weel for a' he's do,
but only—he's no just begu.
the patron (sir, ye maun fie me;
i winna lie, e what will o' me),
on ev'ry hand it will allow'd be,
he's just—ter than he should be.
i readily and freely grant,
he downa see a poor man want;
what's
A Dedication(2/10)