EPISTLE,
TO W. TH*M**N. JUNE, 1805 ______ 1 DEAR WILL, my much respected frien’, 2 I send you this to let you ken, 3 That, tho’ at distance fate hath set you, 4 Your frien’s in P—sl-y don't forget you: 5 But often think on you, far lone, 6 Amang the braes of Overton. 7 Our social club continues yet, 8 Perpetual source of mirth an’ wit, 9 Our rigid rules admit but few, 10 Yet, still we’ll keep a chair for you. 11 A country life I’ve oft envied, 12 Where love, an’ truth, and peace preside; 13 Without temptations to allure, 14 Your days glide on unstain’d an’ pure; 15 Nae midnight revels waste your health, 16 Nor greedy landlord drains your wealth, 17 Ye’re never fash’t wi’ whisky fever, 18 Nor dizzy pow, nor dullness ever, 19 But breathe the halsome calor air, 20 Remote from aught that genders care. 21 I needna’ tell you how much I lang 22 To hear your rural Scottish sang; 23 To hear you sing your heath-clad braes, 24 Your jocund nights, an’ happy days; 25 An’ lilt wi’ glee the blythsome morn, 26 When dew-draps pearl every thorn; 27 When larks pour forth the early sang, 28 An’ lintwhites chant the whins amang, 29 An pyats hap frae tree to tree, 30 Teachin’ their young anes how to flee, 31 While frae the mavis to the wren, 32 A’ warble sweet in bush or glen. 33 In town we scarce can fin’ occasion, 34 To note the beauties o’ creation, 35 But study mankind’s diff’rent dealings, 36 Their virtues, vices, merits, failings, 37 Unpleasing task, compar’d wi’ yours’, 38 Ye range the hills ’mang mountain-flow’rs, 39 An’ view, afar, the smoky town, 40 More blest than all it’s riches were your own. 41 A lang Epistle I might scribble, 42 But aiblins ye will grudge the trouble, 43 Of readin’ sic low, hamert rhyme, 44 An’ sae it’s best to quat in time, 45 Sae, I, with soul sincere an’ fervent, 46 Am still, your trustful friend an’ servant. |
Subtitle W. Th*m**n: William Thomson, a friend of Tannahill's and fellow member of the Paisley Burns Club. 2. ken: archaic in Eng. To know, be aware of, apprehend, learn (a fact). 4. P—sl-y: Paisley. 6. Sc. form of St. Eng. among,but meaning more often resembles that of amid, amidst, or in. 6. braes: hills or hillsides 6. Overton: one of many places named Overton; most likely the Overton near Beith (Semple). 7. social club: the Paisley Burns Club, celebrating the works of Scottish poet Robert Burns, of which Tannahill was a founding member. 17. fash't: troubled, annoyed, bothered, inconvenienced. 18. pow: the crown of the head, the scalp, the skull. 19. halsome: wholesome. Conducive to health; health-giving, salubrious. 19. calor: rare variant of caller: Applied to air, water, etc.: cool, fresh, refreshing. 25. lilt: Of sound: To sing in a low, clear voice, gen. connoting sweetness of tone and light, cheerful rhythm; to trill a tune without singing the words. Gen.Sc., now also adopted by Eng. 25. blythsome: blithesome, now adapted to St. Eng. 26. draps: Sc. form and usage of St. Eng. drops 28. lintwhites: The linnet, Acanthis cannabina. 28. whins: The common gorse or furze, Ulex europaeus. 28. amang: Sc. form and usage of St. Eng. among. 29. pyats: The magpie, Pica pica. 29. frae: Sc. form and use of St.Eng. from. 29. hap: hop. 30. anes: ones. 31. mavis: the song-thrush. 42. aiblins: perhaps. 43. sic: Of the character, degree or extent described 43. hamert: Home-made, of native manufacture, home-grown. 44. quat: To leave, depart from, forsake; to relinquish, give up, let go. |