DEEP in a narrow craiged pig
Lay mony a dainty nut and fig.
A greedy callan, haf a sot,
Shot his wee nive into the pot
And thought to bring as mony out
As a' his fangs cou'd gang about.
But the strait neck o't wadna suffer
The hand of this young foolish truffer,
Sae struted, to return again,
Which gae the gowkie nae sma' pain.
He gowls to be sae disappointed,
And drugs till he has 'maist disjointed
His shekelbane. — Anither lad
Stood by, wha some mair judgment had.
Said, "Billy, dinna grip at a'
And you with ease a part may draw."
This same advice to men I'd lend:
Ne'er for o'er much at anes contend,
But take the cannyest gate to ease
And pike out joys by twa's and three's.
Deep in a nairrae craigit pig
Lay monie a dentie nut an fig.
A gredie callan, haf a sot,
Shot his wee nieve intil the pot
An thocht ti bring as monie oot
As aw his fangs coud gang aboot.
But the strait neck o't wadna suffer
The hand o this young fuil-lik truffer,
Sae struntit, ti return again,
Whilk gae the gowkie nae smaw pain.
He gowls ti be sae disappynetit,
An drogs till he haes 'maist disjynetit
His shacklebane.
Anither lad
Stuid by, wha some mair juidgement haed.
Sayd, "Billie, dinna grip at aw
An ye wi ease a pairt may draw."
This same advice tae men I'd lend:
Neer for ower much at yince contend,
But tek the cannyest yett til ease
An pike oot joys bi twas an threes.