d the martial ranks [once]
An' shook his Carrick spear,
Some merry friendly country-folks
Together did convene
To burn their nits, an' pou their stocks, [nuts, pull, stalks]
An' haud their Halloween [keep]
Fu' blythe that night:

The lasses feat, an cleanly neat, [trim]
Mair braw than when they're fine; [more handsome]
Their faces blythe fu' sweetly kythe [show]
Hearts leal, an' warm, an' kin': [loyal, kind]
The lads sae trig, wi' wooer-babs [love-knots]
Weel knotted on their garten, [garter]
Some unco blate, an' some wi' gabs [very shy, chatter]
Gar lasses' hearts gang startin' [Make]
Whyles fast at night. [Sometimes]

Then, first and foremost, thro' the kail,
Their stocks[8] maun a' be sought ance: [must, once]
They steek their een, an' grape an' wale [shut, eyes, grope, choose]
For muckle anes an' straught anes. [big ones, straight]
Poor hav'rel Will fell aff the drift, [foolish, lost the way]
An' wander'd thro' the bow-kail, [cabbage]
An' pou'd, for want o' better shift, [pulled, choice]
A runt was like a sow-tail, [stalk]
Sae bow'd, that night. [bent]

Then, straught or crooked, yird or nane, [earth]
They roar an' cry a' throu'ther; [pell-mell]
The very wee things toddlin' rin-- [run]
Wi' stocks out-owre their shouther; [over, shoulder]
An' gif the custock's sweet or sour, [if, pith]
Wi' joctelegs they taste them; [pocket-knives]
Syne coziely, aboon the door, [Then, above]
Wi' cannie care they've plac'd them [cautious]
To lie that night.

The lasses sta