[pounds]
Wad ever grac'd a dance of witches!

But here my muse her wing maun cour; [stoop]
Sic flights are far beyond her pow'r--
To sing how Nannie lap and flang, [leapt, kicked]
(A souple jade she was, and strang);
And how Tam stood, like ane bewitch'd,
And thought his very een enrich'd;
Even Satan glowr'd, and fidg'd fu' fain, [fidgeted with fondness]
And hotch'd and blew wi' might and main: [jerked]
Till first ae caper, syne anither, [then]
Tam tint his reason a' thegither, [lost]
And roars out 'Weel done, Cutty-sark!' [Short-shift]
And in an instant all was dark!
And scarcely had he Maggie rallied,
When out the hellish legion sallied.

As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke [fret]
When plundering herds assail their byke, [herd-boys, nest]
As open pussie's mortal foes [the hare's]
When pop! she starts before their nose,
As eager runs the market-crowd,
When 'Catch the thief!' resounds aloud;
So Maggie runs; the witches follow,
Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo. [weird screech]

Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin'![22]
In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin'!
In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin'!
Kate soon will be a woefu' woman!
Now do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stane o' the brig;
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A running stream they darena cross.
But ere the key-stane she could make,
The fient a tail she had to shake! [devil]
For Nannie, far before the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle; [endeavor]
But little wist she Maggie's mettle!
Ae spring brought off her master hale, [whole]
But left behind her ain gray tail:
The carlin caught her by the rump, [clutched]
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed;
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks rin in your mind,
Think! ye may buy the joys o'er dear;
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare.

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