But here my Muse her wing maun cour;
  Sic flights are far beyond her power: 
  To sing how Nannie lap and flang
  (A souple jad she was and strang),
  And how Tam stood like ane bewitched,
  And thought his very een enriched. 
  Even Satan glowered and fidged fu’ fain,
  And hotched and blew wi’ might and main;
  Till first ae caper, syne anither,
  Tam tint his reason a’ thegither,
  And roars out, ‘Weel done, Cutty-sark!’
  And in an instant all was dark;
  And scarcely had he Maggie rallied,
  When out the hellish legion sallied.

  As bees bizz out wi’ angry fyke,
  When plundering herds assail their byke;
  As open pussie’s mortal foes,
  When, pop! she starts before their nose;
  As eager runs the market-crowd,
  When ‘Catch the thief’ resounds aloud;
  So Maggie runs, the witches follow,
  Wi’ monie an eldritch skriech and hollo.

  Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou’ll get thy fairin! 
  In hell they’ll roast thee like a herrin! 
  In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin! 
  Kate soon will be a woefu’ woman! 
  Now do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
  And win the key-stane of the brig;
  There at them thou thy tail may toss—­
  A running stream they dare na cross! 
  But ere the key-stane she could make,
  The fient a tail she had to shake! 
  For Nannie, far before the rest,
  Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
  And flew at Tam wi’ furious ettle;
  But little wist she Maggie’s mettle! 
  Ae spring brought off her master hale,
  But left behind her ain grey tail: 
  The carlin claught her by the rump,
  And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

  Now, wha this tale o’ truth shall read,
  Ilk man and mother’s son, take heed: 
  Whene’er to drink you are inclined,
  Or cutty sarks run in your mind,
  Think ye may buy the joys o’er dear;
  Remember Tam o’ Shanter’s mare.

  AE FOND KISS

  Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! 
  Ae farewell, and then forever! 
  Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee;
  Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee. 
  Who shall say that Fortune grieves him
  While the star of hope she leaves him? 
  Me, nae cheerfu’ twinkle lights me,
  Dark despair around benights me.

  I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy;
  Naething could resist my Nancy: 
  But to see her was to love her,
  Love but her and love forever. 
  Had we never loved sae kindly,
  Had we never loved sae blindly,
  Never met, or never parted,
  We had ne’er been broken-hearted.

  Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest! 
  Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest! 
  Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
  Peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure! 
  Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
  Ae farewell, alas, forever! 
  Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee;
  Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.