She turns the key wi' cannie thraw, [cautious twist] An' owre the threshold ventures; But first on Sawnie gies a ca', [call] Syne bauldly in she enters; [Then] A ratton rattl'd up the wa', [rat] An' she cried 'Lord preserve her!' An' ran thro' midden-hole an' a', [dunghill pool] An' pray'd wi' zeal an' fervour Fu' fast that night
They hoy't out Will, wi' sair advice; [urged] They hecht him some fine braw ane; [promised][measured with It chanced the stack he faddom'd thrice[16] outstretched arms] Was timmer-propt for thrawin': [against leaning over] He taks a swirlie auld moss-oak [gnarled] For some black gruesome carlin; [beldam] An' loot a winze, an' drew a stroke, [uttered a curse] Till skin in blypes cam haurlin' [shreds, peeling] Aff's nieves that night. [Off his fists]
A wanton widow Leezie was, As cantie as a kittlin; [lively] But och! that night, amang the shaws, [woods] She gat a fearfu' settlin'! She thro' the whins, an' by the cairn, [gorse, stone heap] An' owre the hill gaed scrievin'; [careering] Where three laird's lands met at a burn,[17] To dip her left sark-sleeve in, [shirt-] Was bent that night.
Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays, [Waterfall] As thro' the glen it wimpled; [wound] Whyles round a rocky scaur it strays; [ledge] Whyles in a wiel it dimpled; [eddy] Whyles glitter'd to the nightly rays, Wi' bickering, dancing dazzle; Whyles cookit underneath the braes, [peeped] Below the spreading hazel, Unseen that night.
Amang the brackens on the brae, [ferns, hillside] Between her an' the moon, The Deil, or else an outler quey, [unhoused heifer] Gat up an' gae a croon: [gave a low] Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool; [almost leapt, sheath] Near lav'rock height she jumpit, [lark high] But miss'd a fit, an' in the pool [foot] Out-owre the lugs she plumpit, Wi' a plunge that night.
In order, on the clean hearth-stane, The luggies[18] three are ranged; And every time great care is ta'en, To see them duly changed: Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys Sin' Mar's year did desire, [1715 Rebellion] Because he gat the toom dish thrice, [empty] He heav'd them on the fire In wrath that night.
Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks, I wat they did na weary; [wot] And unco tales, an' funny jokes,-- [strange] Their sports were cheap and cheery; Till butter'd sow'ns,[19] wi' fragrant lunt, [smoke] Set a' their gabs a-steerin'; [tongues wagging] Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt, [Then, liquor] They parted aff careerin' Fu' blythe that night.