ah nick! ah nick! it is na fair,
first showing us the tempting ware,
bright wines, and bonie lasses rare,
to put us daft
syne weave, unseen, thy spider snare
o hell's damned waft.
poor man, the flie, aft bizzes by,
and aft, as chance hees thee nigh,
thy damn'd auld elbow yeuks wi'joy
and hellish pleasure!
already in thy fancy's eye,
thy sicker treasure.
soon, heels o'er gowdie, in he gangs,
and, like a sheep-head on a tangs,
thy girning laugh enjoys his pangs,
and murdering wrestle,
as, dangling in the wind, he hangs,
a gibbet's tassel.
but lest you think i am uncivil
to plague you with this draunting drivel,
abjuring a' intentions evil,
i quat my pen,
the lord preserve us frae the devil!
amen! amen!