Braid Claith

Braid Claith

Original Text
Weekly Magazine or Edinburgh Amusement (Edinburgh, 1772). AP E345 MICR mfm Robarts Library
1Ye wha are fain to hae your name
2Wrote in the bonny book of fame,
3Let merit nae pretension claim
4       To laurel'd wreath,
5But hap ye weel, baith back and wame,
6       In gude Braid Claith.
7He that some ells o' this may fa,
8An' slae-black hat on pow like snaw,
9Bids bauld to bear the gree awa',
10       Wi' a' this graith,
11Whan bienly clad wi' shell fu' braw
12       O' gude Braid Claith.
13Waesuck for him wha has na fek o't!
14For he's a gowk they're sure to geck at,
15A chiel that ne'er will be respekit
16       While he draws breath,
17Till his four quarters are bedeckit
18       Wi' gude Braid Claith.
19On Sabbath-days the barber spark,
20When he has done wi' scrapin wark,
21Wi' siller broachie in his sark,
22       Gangs trigly, faith!
23Or to the meadow, or the park,
24       In gude Braid Claith.
25Weel might ye trow, to see them there,
26That they to shave your haffits bare,
27Or curl an' sleek a pickly hair,
28       Wou'd be right laith,
29Whan pacing wi' a gawsy air
30       In gude Braid Claith.
31If only mettl'd stirrah green
32For favour frae a lady's ein,
33He maunna care for being seen
34       Before he sheath
35His body in a scabbard clean
36       O' gude Braid Claith.
37For, gin he come wi' coat threadbare,
38A feg for him she winna care,
39But crook her bonny mou' fu' sair,
40       And scald him baith.
41Wooers shou'd ay their travel spare
42       Without Braid Claith.
43Braid Claith lends fock an unco heese,
44Makes mony kail-worms butterflies,
45Gies mony a doctor his degrees
46       For little skaith:
47In short, you may be what you please
48       Wi' gude Braid Claith.
49For thof ye had as wise a snout on
50As Shakespeare or Sir Isaac Newton,
51Your judgment fouk wou'd hae a doubt on,
52       I'll tak my aith,
53Till they cou'd see ye wi' a suit on
54       O' gude Braid Claith.

Notes

5] hap: wrap.
wame: belly. Back to Line
7] fa: obtain. Back to Line
8] slae: sloe.
pow: head. Back to Line
9] gree: prize. Back to Line
10] graith: dress. Back to Line
11] bienly: comfortably. Back to Line
13] Woe betide him who has not plenty of it. Back to Line
14] gowk: fool.
geck: jeer. Back to Line
21] With small silver brooches in his shirt. Back to Line
22] gangs trigly: goes trimly. Back to Line
26] haffits: cheeks. Back to Line
27] pickly: a little. Back to Line
29] gawsy: gay. Back to Line
31] If any mettled gay fellow yearn. Back to Line
33] maunna: must not. Back to Line
38] feg: fig.
winna: will not. Back to Line
43] fock: folk.
unco heese: uncommon lift. Back to Line
44] kail-worms: caterpillars that feed on cabbages. Back to Line
46] skaith: trouble. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1772
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.768; RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme
aaabab