E T Th R J h M h（1 / 2）

epistle to the rev john &039;ath

sept 13, 1785

closg a py of “holy willie&039;s prayer,”

which he had reested, sept 17, 1785

while at the stook the shearers w&039;r

to shun the bitter bud&039; show&039;r,

or gulrava rn swr

to pass the ti,

to you i dedicate the hour

idle rhy

y ie, tir&039;d wi&039; ony a n

on gown, an&039; ban&039;, an&039; doe bck bon,

is grown right eerie now she&039;s done it,

lest they should b her,

an&039; roe their holy thunder on it

an anathe her

i own &039;as rash, an&039; rather hardy,

that i, a siple, untry bardie,

should ddle wi&039; a pack sae sturdy,

wha, if they ken ,

can easy, wi&039; a sgle wordie,

lowse hell upon

but i gae ad at their griaces,

their sigh, cant, grace-proud faces,

their three-ile prayers, an&039; half-ile graces,

their rax nscience,

whase greed, reven, an&039; pride disgraces

waur nor their nonsense

there&039;s gaw&039;n, isca&039;d waur than a beast,

wha has air honour his breast

than ony sres as guid&039;s the priest

wha sae ab&039;d hi:

and ay a bard no crack his jest

what way they&039;ve &039;d hi?

see hi, the poor an&039;s friend need,

the ntlean word an&039; deed—

an&039; shall his fa an&039; honour bleed

by worthless, skels,

an&039; not a e erect her head

to we the blels?

o pope, had i thy satire&039;s darts

to gie the rascals their deserts,

i&039;d rip their rotten, hollow hearts,

an&039; tell aloud

their juggl hoc-poc arts

to cheat the crowd

god knows, i&039; no the thg i should be,

nor a i even the thg i uld be,

but enty tis i rather would be

an atheist clean,

than under gospel lours hid be

jt for a screen

an honest an ay like a gss,

an