Nae man can tether time or tide:
The hour approaches Tam maun ride, -
That hour, o' night's black arch the key-stane,
That dreary hour he mounts his beast in; 70
And sic a night he taks the road in,

As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in.

The wind blew as 't wad blawn its last; The rattling show'rs rose on the blast; The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd; 75 Loud, deep, and lang the thunder bellow'd: That night, a child might understand,

The Deil had business on his hand.

10

me greet,"

35

Fast by an ingle,12 bleezin finely,

Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh,

Wi' reamin swats 13 that drank divinely; And at his elbow, Souter Johnie,

Whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry.

40

But to our tale:

Tam had got planted unco right,

His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony:
Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither; 14
They had been fou 15 for weeks thegither.
The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter;
And ay the ale was growing better:
The landlady and Tam grew gracious
Wi' secret favours, sweet, and precious:
The souter 16 tauld his queerest stories;
The landlord's laugh was ready chorus:
The storm without might rair and rustle
Tam did na mind the storm a whistle.

By this time he was cross the ford, Whare in the snaw the chapman smoor'd;"

7

And past the birks and meikle stane, 9

90

45

50

17

55

Whare drucken Charlie brak's neck-bane; °.
And thro' the whins,10 and by the cairn,"
Whare hunters fand the murder'd bairn; 12
And near the thorn, aboon 13 the well,
Whare Mungo's mither hang'd hersel.
Before him Doon pours all his floods;
The doubling storm roars thro' the woods;
The lightnings flash from pole to pole,
Near and more near the thunders roll;
When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees,
Kirk-Alloway seemed in a bleeze: 14
Thro' ilka bore 15 the beams were glancing,
And loud resounded mirth and dancing.

95

100

Care, mad to see a man sae happy, E'en drown'd himsel amang the nappy: As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure, The minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure; Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, O'er a' the ills o' life victorious!