AE day a clock wad brag a dial
And put his qualities to trial.
Spake to him thus: "My neibour, pray,
Cans't tell me what's the time of day?"
The dial said, "I dinna ken."
"Alake! what stand ye there for then?"
"I wait here till the sun shines bright,
For nought I ken but by his light."
"Wait on," quoth Clock. "I scorn his help.
Baith night and day my lane I skelp.
Wind up my weights but anes a-week,
Without him I can gang and speak.
Nor like an useless sumph I stand,
But constantly wheel round my hand.
Hark, hark, I strike just now the hour,
And I am right: ane, — twa, — three, — four."
WHILE thus the clock was boasting loud,
The bleezing sun brak throw a cloud.
The dial, faithfu' to his guide,
Spake truth and laid the thumper's pride.
"Ye see," said he, "I've dung you fair.
'Tis four hours and three quarters mair."
"My friend," he added, "count again,
And learn a wee to be less vain.
Ne'er brag of constant clavering cant
And that you answers never want.
For you're not ay to be believ'd.
Wha trust to you may be deceiv'd.
Be counsell'd to behave like me,
For when I dinna clearly see
I always own I dinna ken;
And that's the way of wisest men."
Ae day a clock wad brag a dial
An pit his qualities tae trial.
Spak til him thus: "Ma neibour, pray,
Cans't tell me what's the time o day?"
The dial sayd, "Ah dinna ken."
"Alake! what stan ye thare for then?"
"Ah wait here till the sun sheens bricht,
For nocht Ah ken but bi his licht."
"Wait on," quoth Clock. "Ah scorn his help.
Baith nicht an day ma lane Ah skelp.
Wind up ma wechts but yince a weik,
Withoot him Ah can gang an speik.
Nor like an yissless sumph Ah stan,
But constantly wheel roond ma han.
Hark, herk, Ah strik juist noo the oor,
An Ah am richt: ane, twa, three, fower."
While thus the clock wes blowstin lood,
The bleezin sun brak throwe a clood.
The dial, faithfu til his guide,
Spak troth an laid the thumper's pride.
"Ye see," sayd he, "Ah've dung ye fair.
'Tis fower oors an three quarters mair.
Ma freen," he addit, "coont again,
An lairn a wee ti be less vain.
Neer brag o constant claverin cant
An that ye ansers niver want.
For ye're no aye ti be believed.
Wha trust tae ye may be deceived.
Be coonselled ti behave like me,
For whan Ah dinna clearly see
Ah always awn Ah dinna ken;
An that's the wey o wicest men."