THE ape and leopard, beasts for show,
The first a wit, the last a beau,
To make a penny at a fair
Advertis'd a' their parts sae rare.
The tane gae out with meikle wind
His beauty 'boon the brutal kind.
Said he, "I'm kend baith far and near,
Even kings are pleas'd when I appear.
And when I yield my vital puff,
Queens of my skin will make a muff.
My fur sae delicate and fine
With various spots does sleekly shine."
NOW lads and lasses fast did rin
To see the beast with bonny skin.
His keeper shaw'd him round about.
They saw him soon, and soon came out.
BUT Master Monky with an air
Hapt out and thus harangu'd the fair.
"Come, gentlemen and ladies bonny,
I'll give ye pastime for your money.
I can perform, to raise your wonder,
Of pawky tricks mae than a hunder.
My cousin Spottie, true he's braw,
He has a curious suit to shaw,
And nathing mair. But frae my mind
Ye shall blyth satisfaction find.
Sometimes I'll act a cheil that's dull,
Look thoughtfu', grave, and wag my scull;
Then mimick a light-headed rake,
When on a tow my houghs I shake.
Sometime, like modern monks, I'll seem
To make a speech, and nathing mean.
But come away, ye needna speer
What ye're to pay, I'se no be dear.
And if ye grudge for want of sport,
I'll give it back t' ye at the port."
The ape succeeded, in fowk went,
Stay'd long, and came out well content.
Sae much will wit and spirit please,
Beyond our shape and brawest claiths.
How mony, ah! of our fine gallants
Are only leopard in their talents!
THE awp an lepert, beasts for shaw,
The first a wut, the last a baw,
Ti mek a pennie at a fair
Adverteesed aw thair pairts sae rare.
The tane gae oot wi muckle win
His beautie 'boon the bruital kin.
Sayd he, "Ah'm kend baith ferr an near,
E'en kings err pleised whan I appear.
An whan Ah yield ma vital puff,
Queens o ma skin wull mek a muff.
Ma fur sae delicett an feen
Wi various spots daes sleekly sheen."
Noo lads an lasses fast did rin
Ti see the beast wi bonnie skin.
His keeper shawed him roond aboot,
Thay saw him suin, an suin cam oot.
But Maister Monkie wi an air
Hapt oot, an thus harangued the fair.
"Come, gentlemen an leddies bonnie,
Ah'll gie ye pastime for yer money.
I can perfurm, ti raise yer wunder,
O paukie tricks mae than a hunder.
Ma cuisin Spottie, true he's braw,
He haes a cuirious suit ti shaw,
An naethin mair. But frae ma mind
Ye sall blythe saitisfaction find.
Sometimes Ah'll act a chiel that's dull,
Leuk thochtfu, grave, an wag ma scull;
Than meemic a licht-heidit rake,
Whan on a towe ma hochs Ah shake.
Sometime, like modren monks, Ah'll seem
Ti mek a speech, an naethin mean.
But come awa, ye needna speer
What ye're ti pey, Ah'se no be dear.
An yif ye grudge for want o sport,
Ah'll gie it back t'ye at the port."
The awp succeedit, in fowk went,
Steyd lang, an cam oot weel content.
Sae much wull wut an speerit pleis,
Ayont oor shape an brawest cleas.
Hoo monie, ah! o oor feen gallants
Err anely lepert in thair talents!