Robert Burns - The Complete Works

Take an opportunity of going unnoticed, to a bean stack, and fathom it three times round. The last fathom of the last time, you will catch in your arms the appearance of your future conjugal yoke-fellow.

You go out, one or more, for this is a social spell, to a south running spring or rivulet, where “three lairds’ lands meet,” and dip your left shirt-sleeve. Go to bed in sight of a fire, and hang your wet sleeve before it to dry. Lie awake: and, some time near midnight, an apparition having the exact figure of the grand object in question, will come and turn the sleeve, as if to dry the other side of it.

Take three dishes: put clean water in one, foul water in another, and leave the third empty; blindfold a person and lead him to the hearth where the dishes are ranged; he (or she) dips the left hand: if by chance in the clean water, the future husband or wife will come to the bar of matrimony a maid; if in the foul, a widow; if in the empty dish, it foretells, with equal certainty, no marriage at all. It is repeated three times, and every time the arrangement of the dishes is altered.

Sowens, with butter instead of milk to them, is always the Halloween supper.

Dr. Taylor, of Norwich.

Gavin Hamilton, Esq.

Sir Adam Ferguson.

The Duke of Montrose.

A worthy old hostess of the author’s in Mauchline, where he sometimes studies politics over a glass of guid auld Scotch drink.

When this worthy old sportsman went out last muirfowl season, he supposed it was to be, in Ossian’s phrase, “the last of his fields.”

A preacher, a great favourite with the million. Vide the Ordination, stanza II

Another preacher, an equal favourite with the few, who was at that time ailing. For him see also the Ordination, stanza IX.

Pope.

Pope.

A certain humorous dream of his was then making a noise in the country-side.

A song he had promised the author.

The airles—earnest money.

Diogenes.

Alluding to the newspaper account of a certain royal sailor’s amour

Cuchullin’s dog in Ossian’s Fingal.

A noted tavern at the auld Brig end.

The two steeples.

The gos-hawk or falcon.

A noted ford, just above the Auld Brig.

The banks of Garpal Water is one of the few places in the West of Scotland, where those fancy-scaring beings, known by the name of Ghaists, still continue pertinaciously to inhabit.

The source of the river Ayr.

A small landing-place above the large key.

A well known performer of Scottish music on the violin.

The Man of Feeling, by Mackenzie.

Edinburgh.

The Chamber of Commerce in Edinburgh, of which Creech was Secretary.

Many literary gentlemen were accustomed to meet at Mr. Creech’s house at breakfast.

The King’s Park, at Holyrood-house.

St. Anthony’s Well.

St. Anthony’s Chapel.

His mare.

This Poem was written a short time after the publication of M’Gill’s Essay.

Dr. M’Gill.

John Ballantyne.

Robert Aiken.

Dr. Dalrymple.

Mr. Russell.

Mr. M’Kinlay.

Mr. Moody, of Riccarton.

Mr. Auld of Mauchline.

Mr. Grant, of Ochiltree.

Mr. Young, of Cumnock.

Mr. Peebles, Ayr.

Dr. Andrew Mitchell, of Monkton.

Mr. Stephen Young, of Barr.

Mr. George Smith, of Galston.

Mr. John Shepherd, Muirkirk.

Holy Willie, alias William Fisher, Elder in Mauchline.

Gavin Hamilton.

Birkwhistle: a Galloway laird, and elector.

John M’Murdo, Esq., of Drumlanrig.

Fergusson of Craigdarroch.

Riddel of Friars-Carse.

Provost Staig of Dumfries.

Sheriff Welsh.

A wine merchant in Dumfries.

The executioner of Charles I. was masked.

Scrimgeour, Lord Dundee.

Graham, Marquis of Montrose.

Stewart of Hillside.

VARIATION.

The cricket raised its cheering cry,

The kitten chas’d its tail in joy.

VARIATION.

Three lawyers’ tongues turn’d inside out,

Wi’ lies seem’d like a beggar’s clout;

And priests’ hearts rotten black as muck,

Lay stinking vile, in every neuk.

It is a well-known fact that witches, or any evil spirits, have no power to follow a poor wight any further than the middle of the next running stream. It may be proper likewise to mention to the benighted traveller, that when he falls in with bogles, whatever danger there may be in his going forward, there is much more hazard in turning back.

See Ossian’s Carie-thura.

See Johnson’s Tour to the Hebrides

VARIATIONS

To join yon river on the Strath.

VARIATIONS

Now looking over firth and fauld,

Her horn the pale-fac’d Cynthia rear’d;

When, lo, in form of minstrel auld,

A storm and stalwart ghaist appear’d.

Captain Gillespie.

Col. Macdouall.

Murray, of Broughton and Caillie.

Gordon of Balmaghie.

Bushby, of Tinwald-Downs.

Maxwell, of Cardoness.

The Douglasses, of Orchardtown and Castle-Douglas.

Gordon, afterwards Viscount Kenmore.

Laurie, of Redcastle.