Glaud. Doubt! why, they neither doubt, nor judge, nor think,

Nor hope, nor fear; but curfe, debauch, and drink ; But I'm no faying this, as if I thought

That Patrick to fic gates will e'er be brought.

Peg. The Lord forbid! Na, he kens better things: But here comes aunt; her face some ferly brings.

Enter Madge.

Mad. Hafte, hafte ye; we're a' fent for o'er the gate, To hear, and help to redd fome odd debate "Tween Mause and Bauldy, 'bout fome witchcraft fpell, At Symon's houfe: the knight fits judge himfell.

Glaud. Lend me my ftaff;-Madge, lock the outerAnd bring the laffes wi'ye; I'll step before.

[door.

[Exit Glaud. Mad. Poor Meg! look, Jenny, was the like e'er feen? How bleer'd and red wi' greeting look her een! This day her brankan wooer taks his horse, To ftrute a gentle fpark at Edinburgh cross; To change his kent, cut frae the branchy plain, For a nice fword, and glancing-headed cane; To leave his ram-horn fpoons, and kitted whey, For gentler tea, that smells like new-won hay; To leave the green-fwaird dance, when we gae milk, To ruftle 'mang the beauties clad in filk. But, Meg, poor Meg! maun wi' the shepherd stay, And tak what God will fend, in hodden-gray.

your

Prg. Dear aunt, what needs ye fash us wi'
It's no my faut that I'm nae gentler born.
Gif I the daughter of fome laird had been,
I ne'er had notic'd Patie on the green.
Now fince he rifes, why fhou'd I repine?
If he's made for anither, he'll ne'er be mine:
And then, the like has been, if the decree
Defigns him mine, I yet his wife may be.

Mad. A bonny ftory, trouth!-but we delay:
Prin up your aprons baith, and come away.

fcorn?

[Excunt.

SCENE

Sir William fills the twa-arm'd chair,
While Symon, Roger, Glaud, and Mause,
Attend, and vi' loud laughter hear

Daft Bauldy bluntly plead his cause:
For now it's tell'd him that the tax
Was handled by reveng fu' Madge,
Because he brak good-breeding's laws,
And wi' bis nonfenfe rais'd their rage.

Sir W. And was that all? Weel, Bauldy, ye was No otherwife than what ye well deserv'd.

Was it fo fmall a matter to defame,

And thus abuse an honest woman's name?
Befides your going about to have betray'd,
By perjury, an innocent young maid.

Bauld. Sir, I conte's my faut thro' a' the steps,
And ne'er again fall be untrue to Neps.

[ferv'd

Mau. Thus far, Sir, he oblig'd me on the fcore, I kend na that they thought me fic before."

Baul. An't like your honour, I believ'd it weel; But trowth I was e'en doilt to feek the deel:

Yet, wi' your honour's leave, though fhe's nae witch,
She's baith a flee and a revengefu'

And that my fome-place finds :-- but I had beft
Ha'd in my tongue; for yonder comes the ghaift,
And the young bonny witch, whofe rofie cheek,
without my wit, the deel to feek.
Enter Madge, l'eggy, and Jenny.
Sir William, looking at Peggy.

Sent

me,

Whofe daughter's fhe that wears th' Aurora gown,
With face fo fair, and locks a lovely brown?
How fparkling are her eyes! what's this? I find
The girl brings all my fifter to my mind.
Such were the features once adorn'd a face,
Which death too foon depriv'd of sweetest grace.
Is this your daughter, Glaud?.

Glaud.

Sir, fhe's my niece,And yet she's not :-but I shou'd hald my peace.

Sir . This is a contradiction. What d'ye mean?* She is, and is not pray thee, Glaud, explain. Glaud. Because I doubt, if I fhou'd mak appear What I ha'e kept a fecret thirteen yearMau. You may reveal what I can fully clear. Sir W. Speak foon; I'm all impatienceSo am I !

Pat.

For much I hope, and hardly yet know why.

Glaud. Then, fince my mafter orders, I obey.-
This bonny fundling, ae clear morn of May,
Close by the lee-fide of my door I found,
All fweet and clean, and carefully hapt round,
In infant weeds of rich and gentle make.

What cou'd they be, thought I, did thee forfake?
Wha, warfe than brutes, cou'd leave expos'd to air
Sae much of innocence, fae fweetly fair,
Sae helpless young? for fhe appear'd to me
Only about twa towmands auld to be.
I took her in my arms; the bairnie fmil'd
Wi' fic a look, wad made a favage mild.
I hid the ftory: fhe has paft fince fyne
As a poor orphan, and a niece of mine.
Nor do I rue my care about the wean,
For fhe's weel worth the pains that I ha'e ta'en.
Ye fee fhe's bonny; I can fwear she's good,
And am right fure fhe's come of gentle blood:
Of whom I kenna.—Naething ken I mair,
Than what I to your honour now declare.
Sir W. This tale seems strange!

Pat.

}

The tale delights mine ear. Sir W. Command your joys, young man, till truth

appear.

Mau. That be my tafk.-Now, Sir, bid a' be huf; Peggy may fmile;-thou haft nae caufe to blush. Lang ha'e I wish'd to fee this happy day, That I might fafely to the truth gi'e way; That I may now Sir William Worthy name, The best and nearest friend that she can claim : He faw't at first, and wi' quick eye did trace His fifter's beauty in her daughter's face. Sir W. Old woman, do not rave,-prove what 'Tis dangerous in affairs like this to play.

you fay;

Pat.

Pat. What reafon, Sir, can an auld woman have
To tell a lie, when fhe's fae near her grave?
But how, or why, it fhou'd be truth, I grant,
I, every thing looks like a reafon want.

Ommes. The story's odd! we wish we heard it out.
Sir W: Make haste, good woman, and refolve each
doubt.

[Maufe goes foreward, leading Peggy to Sir William. Mau. Sir, view me weel; has fifteen years fo plow'd A wrinkled face that you ha'e aften view'd,

That here I as an unknown ftranger stand,

Who nurft her mother that now holds my hand?
Yet ftronger proofs I'll gi'e, if you demand.

Sir W. Ha! honeft nurfe, where were my eyes before?
I know thy faithfulness, and need no more:
Yet, from the lab'rinth to lead out my mind,
Say, to expofe her, who was so unkind ?

[Sir William embraces Peggy, and makes ber fit by him. Yes, furely thou'rt my niece; truth muft prevail: But no more words, till Maufe relate her tale.

Pat. Good nurfe, gae on; nae mufic's haff fae fipe, Or can gi'e pleafure like thefe words of thine.

Mau. Then it was I that fav'd her infant-life,
Her death being threaten'd by an uncle's wife.
The ftory's lang; but I the fecret knew,
How they purfu'd, wi' avaricious view,
Her rich eftate, of which they're now possest,
All this to me a confident confeft.

I heard wi' horror, and wi' trembling dread,
They'd fmoor the fakele's orphan in her bed!
That very night, when a' were funk in reft,
At midnight-hour, the floor I faftly prest,
And ftaw the fleeping innocent away;
Wi' whom I travell'd fome few miles ere day:
All day I hid me ;-when the day was done,
I kept my journey lighted by the moon,
Till eastward fifty miles I reach'd thefe plains,
Where needfu' plenty glads your cheerfu' swains
Afraid of being found out, I to fecure
My charge, e'en laid her at this fhepherd's door,
And took a neighbouring cottage here, that I,
Whate'er fhow'd happen to her, might be by.

;

Here

Here honest Glaud himfell, and Symon, may
Remember weel, how I that very day

Frae Roger's father took my little crove.

Glaud. [With tears of joy happing down his beard.] I
weel remember't; Lord reward your love:

Lang ha'e I wish'd for this; for aft I thought
Sic knowledge fometime fhou'd about be brought.
Pat. It's now a crime to doubt;-my joys are full,
Wi' due obedience to my parent's will.

Sir, wi' paternal love furvey her charms,
And blame me not for rufhing to her arms.
She's mine by vows; and wou'd, tho' ftill unknown,
Have been my wife, when I my vows durft own.

Sir W. My niece! my daughter! welcome to iny care; Sweet image of thy mother, good and fair,

Equal with Patrick. Now my greatest aim

Shall be, to aid your joys, and well match'd-flame.
My boy, receive her from your father's hand,

With as good will as either would demand.

Patie and Peggy embrace, and kneel to Sir William.
Pat. Wi' as much joy this blefling I receive,

As ane wad life, that's tinking in a wave.

Sir W. [Raifes them.] I give you both my bleffing; may your love

Produce a happy race, and ftill improve.

Peg. My wifles are complete, my joys arise,
While I'm haff d zzy wi' the bleft furprise.
And am I then a match for my ain lad,
That for me so much generous kindness had?
Lang may Sir William blefs the happy plains,
Happy while heaven grant he on them remains.

Pat. Belang our guardian, ftill our master be,
We'll only crave what you shall please to gi'e;
Th'eftate be your's, my Peggy's ane to me.

Glaud. I hope your honour now will tak amends
Of them that fought her life for wicked ends.
Sir W. The bafe unnatural villain foon fhall know,
That eyes above watch the affairs below.
I'll frip him foon of all to her pertains.
And make him reimburse h's ill-got gains.

Peg. To me the views of wealth, and an eftate,

Seem light, when put in balance wi' my Pate:

2

For