Classic Poem

THE RAM AND THE BUCK .

A RAM , the father of a flock,
Wha 'd mony winters stood the shock
Of northern winds and driving snaw,
Leading his family in a raw,
Through wreaths that clad the laigher field,
And drave them frae the lowner bield,
To crop contented frozen fare,
With honesty on hills blown bare:
This Ram, of upright hardy spirit,
Was really a horn'd head of merit.
Unlike him was a neighbouring Goat,
A mean-saul'd, cheating, thieving sot,
That tho' possest of rocks the prime,
Crown'd with fresh herbs and rowth of thyme,
Yet, slave to pilfering, his delight
Was to break gardens ilka night,
And round him steal, and aft destroy
Even things he never could enjoy;
The pleasure of a dirty mind,
That is sae viciously inclin'd.

 Upon a barrowing day, when sleet
Made twinters and hog-wedders bleet,
And quake with cauld; behind a ruck
Met honest Toop and sneaking Buck;
Frae chin to tail clad with thick hair,
He bad defiance to thin air;
But trusty Toop his fleece had riven,
When he amang the birns was driven:
Half naked the brave leader stood,
His look compos'd, unmov'd his mood:
When thus the Goat, that had tint a'
His credit baith with great and sma',
Shun'd by them as a pest, wad fain
New friendship with this worthy gain:
“Ram, say, shall I give you a part
“Of mine? I 'll do 't with all my heart:
“'Tis yet a lang cauld month to Beltan,
“And ye 've a very ragged kelt on;
“Accept, I pray, what I can spare,
“To clout your doublet with my hair.”

 “No,” says the Ram, “tho' my coat 's “torn,
“Yet ken, thou worthless, that I scorn
“To be oblig'd at any price
“To sic as you, whose friendship 's vice:
“I 'd have less favour frae the best,
“Clad in a hatefu' hairy vest
“Bestow'd by thee, than as I now
“Stand but ill drest in native woo'.
“Boons frae the generous make ane smile;
“From miscreants, make receivers vile.”