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The fourth muse
39
Be silent, said good Gall, or speak at leasure,
For men will cut your throat to get your treasure,
If they its worth did know so well as I.
Harpocrates my patience will try,
Said I againe, for I am not like such
Who hurd their treasure and their speach asmuchas much.
But Gall, to stay long, no wayes could be mov'd
This element, said he, I never lov'd.
To land: on goeth our cloaths, alongst the way
Then did we go, and taking cleare survey
How proper Perth did stand, one might have drawn
Its landship fair, on paper, or on lawn.
Good Gall, said I, ofttimes I heard of old[1]
To be of truth these things ere while you told:
But of these wals I doubt that which you said
That good King William their foundations layd.
Their founding is more late, I you assure;
That we from strangers rage may be secure,
They builded were, even then when Iames did reigne
The second, and in minor age was king,
Vpon a bloodie slaughter, I hear tell,
Which twixt our town and highland men befell;
For taking, as the custome was, a staig
At Midsummer; said Gall, Monsier, you vaig.
Which word indeed my spleane almost did move:
Then Gall, said I, if that I did not love
You most intirely, I would be offended.
Said he, good Monsier, Would you have it mended?
Then I that storie will you truely tell,
And if I faile so much as in a spell,
For men will cut your throat to get your treasure,
If they its worth did know so well as I.
Harpocrates my patience will try,
Said I againe, for I am not like such
Who hurd their treasure and their speach asmuchas much.
But Gall, to stay long, no wayes could be mov'd
This element, said he, I never lov'd.
To land: on goeth our cloaths, alongst the way
Then did we go, and taking cleare survey
How proper Perth did stand, one might have drawn
Its landship fair, on paper, or on lawn.
Good Gall, said I, ofttimes I heard of old[1]
To be of truth these things ere while you told:
But of these wals I doubt that which you said
That good King William their foundations layd.
Their founding is more late, I you assure;
That we from strangers rage may be secure,
They builded were, even then when Iames did reigne
The second, and in minor age was king,
Vpon a bloodie slaughter, I hear tell,
Which twixt our town and highland men befell;
For taking, as the custome was, a staig
At Midsummer; said Gall, Monsier, you vaig.
Which word indeed my spleane almost did move:
Then Gall, said I, if that I did not love
You most intirely, I would be offended.
Said he, good Monsier, Would you have it mended?
Then I that storie will you truely tell,
And if I faile so much as in a spell,
Speak
- ↑ The wals of Perth.