[
  {
    "title": "155. Epistle to Mrs. Scott of Wauchope House",
    "author": "Robert Burns",
    "lines": [
      "GUDEWIFE,I MIND it weel in early date,",
      "When I was bardless, young, and blate,",
      "  An’ first could thresh the barn,",
      "Or haud a yokin’ at the pleugh;",
      "An, tho’ forfoughten sair eneugh,",
      "  Yet unco proud to learn:",
      "When first amang the yellow corn",
      "  A man I reckon’d was,",
      "An’ wi’ the lave ilk merry morn",
      "  Could rank my rig and lass,",
      "    Still shearing, and clearing",
      "      The tither stooked raw,",
      "    Wi’ claivers, an’ haivers,",
      "      Wearing the day awa.",
      "",
      "",
      "E’en then, a wish, (I mind its pow’r),",
      "A wish that to my latest hour",
      "  Shall strongly heave my breast,",
      "That I for poor auld Scotland’s sake",
      "Some usefu’ plan or book could make,",
      "  Or sing a sang at least.",
      "The rough burr-thistle, spreading wide",
      "  Amang the bearded bear,",
      "I turn’d the weeder-clips aside,",
      "  An’ spar’d the symbol dear:",
      "    No nation, no station,",
      "      My envy e’er could raise;",
      "    A Scot still, but blot still,",
      "      I knew nae higher praise.",
      "",
      "",
      "But still the elements o’ sang,",
      "In formless jumble, right an’ wrang,",
      "  Wild floated in my brain;",
      "’Till on that har’st I said before,",
      "May partner in the merry core,",
      "  She rous’d the forming strain;",
      "I see her yet, the sonsie quean,",
      "  That lighted up my jingle,",
      "Her witching smile, her pawky een",
      "  That gart my heart-strings tingle;",
      "    I firèd, inspired,",
      "      At every kindling keek,",
      "    But bashing, and dashing,",
      "      I fearèd aye to speak.",
      "",
      "",
      "Health to the sex! ilk guid chiel says:",
      "Wi’ merry dance in winter days,",
      "  An’ we to share in common;",
      "The gust o’ joy, the balm of woe,",
      "The saul o’ life, the heaven below,",
      "  Is rapture-giving woman.",
      "Ye surly sumphs, who hate the name,",
      "  Be mindfu’ o’ your mither;",
      "She, honest woman, may think shame",
      "  That ye’re connected with her:",
      "    Ye’re wae men, ye’re nae men",
      "      That slight the lovely dears;",
      "    To shame ye, disclaim ye,",
      "      Ilk honest birkie swears.",
      "",
      "",
      "For you, no bred to barn and byre,",
      "Wha sweetly tune the Scottish lyre,",
      "  Thanks to you for your line:",
      "The marled plaid ye kindly spare,",
      "By me should gratefully be ware;",
      "  ’Twad please me to the nine.",
      "I’d be mair vauntie o’ my hap,",
      "  Douce hingin owre my curple,",
      "Than ony ermine ever lap,",
      "  Or proud imperial purple.",
      "    Farewell then, lang hale then,",
      "      An’ plenty be your fa;",
      "    May losses and crosses",
      "      Ne’er at your hallan ca’!R. BURNS.March, 1787"
    ],
    "linecount": "70"
  }
]