To A Louse.


On seeing one on a lady's bonnet at church.

Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie? 
Your impudence protects you sairly, 
I canna say but ye strut rarely 
Owre gauze and lace, 
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely 
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner, 
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner, 
How daur ye set your fit upon her -- 
Sae fine a lady! 
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

I wad na been surpris'd to spy 
You on an auld wife's flainen toy: 
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy, 
On's wyliecoat; 
But Miss's fine Lunardi! fye! 
How daur ye do't.

O Jenny, dinna toss your head, 
An' set your beauties a' abread! 
You little ken what cursed speed 
The blastie's makin! 
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread, 
Are notice takin'!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us 
To see oursels as ithers see us! 
It wad frae monie a blunder free us, 
An' foolish notion: 
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us, 
An' ev'n devotion!