Lyr Add: The Lament- Oliver

Subject: Lyr Add: The Lament- Oliver
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 06:38 PM

The Lament.
Tune-" The Bold Dragoon."

A bard hez said that "dowly thowts are mair wor frinds than foes"-
As frinds are rether scarce, ye ken, aw've browt a mournful dose;
Deeth rammels on throo lane an' square, an' wiv his dart byeth wives an' men pricks,
Od bgliss him! wad he oney spare wor canny toon her greet eccentrics.

Bet Watt an' Soulger Mally's gyen!-Yence mair his dart he threw,
An' slew the bonniest an' the last- the maid they called Balloo:
Ti hear her sweer how oft aw've staid, an' gazed upon her linsey-winsey;
But Jenny's cracks are now aw laid aboot her bruther, greet Lord Linsay.

Mysell aw seun began ti hug when Crummy was laid law,
Aw thowt the yell wad be a drug, 'twas sartin sure ti fa';
Ti see him drink, that was a treat, -his thropploe seemed a hogshead funnel;
An' now that Crummy's lost his feet, it sarves, aw fancy, for a tunnel.

A story yence myed Sandgate ring, the Keyside a' luik blue-
'Twas then a hoax, or sum sic thing, but noo it's cum ower true;
Oh, had it been a duke or lord, aw wonder whe wad cared a scuddick;-
Bold Archy's popped at last overboard, slipt withoot bait intiv his huddick.

His cradle was the keel deck, where Britannia seeks her tars-
She quickly spied the hero there, an' called him ti the wars;
He thump'd the Spanish Dons, 'twas said, till they roared oot for peace like ninnies,
For yence, at least, was Archy paid his good shag hat chock full iv ginnies.

Men are se dwiney nooadays, that honest Archy cam
Ti gi' the world, as Shakesperre says, asshurance iv a man;
Ti see him cummin' up the Kee, se independent, stiff, an' starchy-
His like agyen we'll nivver see- peace ti the byens iv poor Bold Archy!

-William Oliver, 1820