THE statue of the tragic young poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1774) in Edinburgh's Royal Mile wore a wreath last week as part of a celebration of three literary Roberts - Fergusson himself, Burns, and R L Stevenson.
Burns greatly admired the man he called "by far my elder brother in the muse". Here is a sample of Fergusson in vigorous satirical mode.
from TO THE TRON-KIRK BELL
Wanwordy, crazy, dinsome thing,
As e'er was fram'd to jow or ring,
What gar'd them sic in steeple hing
They ken themsel',
But weel wat I they couldna bring
War sounds frae hell.
What de'il are ye? that I shud ban,
You're neither kin to pat nor pan;
Nor uly pig nor master-cann
But weel may gie
Mair pleasure to the ear o' man
Than stroke o' thee.
O! war I provost o' the town,
I swear by a' the pow'rs aboon,
I'd bring ye wi a reesle down;
Nor shud you think
(Sae sair I'd crack and clour your crown)
Again to clink.
Wanwordy=worthless; uly pig=oil jar; master-cann=vessel to hold bleach; reesle=clatter; clour=batter.
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