Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Revised by Alexander Leighton

R >> Revised by Alexander Leighton >> Wilson\'s Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV.

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_Lady Seton_.--Hold! hold, my husband--save thy life and honour!
Thou art a father--am not I a mother?
Knowest thou the measure of a mother's love?
Think ye she yearns not for her own heart's blood?
Yet I will _live_! and thou shalt live, my husband!
We will not rob this Edward of his shame;
Write--I will dictate as my sons had done it--
I know their nature, for 'twas I who gave it.

_Sir Alex_.--Thou wait'st an answer, Percy--I will give it.
_[Sits down to write_.

No; I cannot, Matilda.

_Lady Seton_.--Write thus:
"Edward may break his faith, but Seton cannot!
Edward may earn disgrace, but Seton honour!
His sons are in your power! Do! do as ye list!"

_[He starts up in agitation_.

_Sir Alex_.--No, no! it cannot be--say not my sons!
Lord Percy, let your tyrant take my life!
Torture me inchmeal!--to the last I'll smile,
And bless him for his mercy!--but spare, oh spare my children!

_Provost Ramsay_.--Really, Sir Alexander, I dinna ken hoo
to advise you. To think o' gien up the toun to sic a monster o'
iniquity, is entirely out o' the question--just impossible
a'thegither; and to think o' the twa dear brave bairns
sufferin', is just as impossible as to flee in the air. I tell
ye what, my lord--and it is my opinion it is a very fair
proposal (if naething but deaths will satisfy your king)--I, for
ane, will die in their stead--their faither will for anither;
and is there ane amang _you_, my townsmen, that winna do
the same, and let your names be handed down as heroes to your
bairns' bairns, and the last generation?

_Percy_.--Thou hast a noble heart, old honest Scotsman; but
I cannot accept your generous offer.

_Lady Seton_.--Mark this, my husband!--that we may still be parents--
That we might have two sons to _live and scorn us_--
Sell country--honour--all--and live disgraced:
Think ye MY SONS would call a _traitor_ father?--
They drew their life from _me_--from _me_ they drew it;
And think ye I would call a _traitor husband?_--
What! would ye have them live, that every slave,
In banquet or in battle, might exclaim,
"For you, ye hinds, your father sold his country?"
Or, would you have them live, that no man's daughter
Would stoop so low as call your sons her husband?
Would you behold them hooted, hissed at,
Oft, as they crossed the street, by every urchin?
Would ye your sons--your _noble_ sons--met this,
Eather than die for Scotland? If ye do love them,
Love them as a _man_!

_Sir Alex_.--'Tis done! my country, thou hast made me bankrupt!
And I am childless! _[Exeunt_

SCENE VIII.--_The river, and boat. Time midnight. Enter one
habited as a friar_.

_Friar_.---'Tis now thick midnight. All round me sleep,
And not a star looks from the curtained heaven.
The very sentinels cease to pace their round,
And stand in calm security. I'll brave them.
What though the bridge be guarded, and the river
Rush like a tiger?--love has no such fears,
And Heaven is stronger than its waters!

_[A bell tolls slowly_.

Ha! that slow-tongued bell, that speaks of death,
Falls on my ears as would a solid substance,
Pressing my heart down! Oh cruel speed!
Already they prepare their execution!
But they shall live, or I with them shall die!
THOU, who beholdest me, and lookest through
The darkness of Thy heavens upon Thy suppliant,
Let not a tyrant stain Thy earth with blood--
The blood of innocence! Thou, who art mercy,
Spare a father's tears! Thou, who art love,
Look on a mother's anguish! Thou, who art justice,
Save! oh, save their children! Thou, who art power,
Strengthen my hands to-night. _[Rises._
Now, may an angel's hand direct my skiff
Straight to their camp, till with one blow I strike
Their freedom and my country's!

_[He leaps into the boat and pushes off_.

SCENE IX.--_The English camp. A fire in the distance.
Enter_ HENRY _and_ RICHARD, _fettered and guarded_.

_Henry_.--Would it were morning, and the hour were come.
For still my heart misgives me, lest our parents
Do, in fond weakness, save us by dishonour!

_Richard_.--Rather than purchase life at such a price,
And have my father sell his faith for me,
And sell his country, I would rather thou,
My brother in my birth and in my death,
Should be my executioner! We know them better!

_Henry_.--Now I seem old and weary of this life,
So joy I in our death for Scotland's sake;
For this death will so wed us to our country,
We shall be old in years to all posterity!
And it will place a blot on Edward's name,
That time may blacken, but can ne'er efface.

_Richard_.--My heart, too, beats as light as if tomorrow
Had been, by young love, destined for my bridal;
Yet oft a tear comes stealing down my cheek,
When I do think me of our _mother_, Henry!

_Henry_.--Oh speak not of our parents! or my heart
Will burst ere morning, and from the tyrant rob
His well-earned infamy.

_Richard_.--Oh! I must speak of them:
They now will wander weeping in their chamber,
Or from their window through the darkness gaze,
And stretch their hands and sigh towards the camp;
Then, when the red east breaks the night away--
Ah! what a sight will meet their eyes, my brother!

_Henry_.--My brother! oh my brother!

_Enter_ FRIAR.

_Guard_.--Who would pass here?

_Friar_.--A friend! a friend!--a messenger of mercy!

_Guard_.--Nay, wert thou mercy's self, you cannot pass.

_Friar_.--Refuse ye, then, your prisoners their confessor?

_Guard_.--Approach not, or ye die!

_Friar_.--Would ye stretch forth your hand 'gainst Heaven's
anointed?

_Guard_.--Ay! 'gainst the Pope himself, if he should thwart
me.

_Friar_.--Mercy ye have not, neither shall ye find it.

_[Springs forward and stabs him_--_approaches_ RICHARD
_and_ HENRY, _and unbinds their fetters_.

_Friar_.--In chains as criminals! Ye are free, but speak
not.

_Richard_.--Here, holy father, let me kneel to thank thee.

_Henry_.--And let me hear but my deliverer's name,
That my first prayer may waft it to the skies.

_Friar_.--Kneel not, nor thank me here. There's need of neither;
But be ye silent, for the ground has ears;
Nor let it hear your footsteps.

_[He approaches the fire; kindles a torch and fires the
camp_.

_Henry_.--Behold, my brother, he has fired the camp!
Already see the flames ascend around him.

_Friar_.--Now! now, my country! here thou art avenged!
Fly with me to the beach! pursuit is vain!
Thou, Heaven, hast heard me! thou art merciful! _[Exit_.

SCENE X.--_Apartment in_ SETON'S _House_.

_Sir Alex_.--Oh, what is honour to a father's heart?
Can it extinguish nature--soothe its feelings--
Or make the small still voice of conscience dumb?
My sons! my sons! Though ye should hold me guiltless, there's a tongue
Within me whispers, _I'm your murderer!_
Ah! my Matilda! hadst thou been less noble,
We both had been less wretched! But do I,
To hide my sin, place't on the mother's heart?
Though she did hide the _mother_ from _men's_ eyes,
Now, crushed by woes, she cannot look on _mine_.
But, locked in secret, weeps her soul away,
That it may meet her children's! I alone,
Widowed and childless, like a blasted oak
Reft of its root and branches, must be left
For every storm to howl at!

[ELLIOT _enters with a dagger_.

Ah, my sons!
Could anguish rend my heartstrings, I should not
Behold another sun rise on my misery!

_Elliot [springing upon him]_.--By Heavens, mine enemy,
I swear thou shalt not!

_They struggle. Shouting without. Enter_ FRIAR _and_
SETON'S SONS, PROVOST RAMSAY. FRIAR _springs forward_.

_Friar_.--Down! traitor, down! [_Stabs_ ELLIOT.

_Sir Alex_.--My sons! my sons!
Angels of mercy, do you mock my sight!
My boys! my boys!

_Provost Ramsay_.--Save us a'! save us a'!--callants, come
to my arms too! Here's an hour o' joy! This, in my solemn
opinion, is what I ca' livin' a lifetime in the twinklin' o' an
ee. And what think ye, Sir Alexander! The English camp is a' in
a bleeze, and there they are fleeing awa helter-skelter, leaving
everything behind them.

_Sir Alex_.--What! they fly too!--thank Heaven! thank Heaven!
My cup of joy o'erflows, and floods my heart
More than my griefs!

_Richard_.--'Tis true, my father--
To this, our unknown saviour, do we owe
Our life and yours!--'twas he, too, seized the torch,
And bid the bonfire blaze to Scotland's freedom.

_Sir Alex_.--Forgive me, reverend stranger, if that I,
In the delirium of a parent's joy,
O'erlooked the hand that saved me:
Kneel, my sons,
And with your father, at this stranger's feet,
Pour out your thanks, and beg his blessing also.

_[They kneel around the supposed friar, who casts off the
disguise, and is discovered to be their mother_.

_Lady Seton_.--A _mother_, in her children's cause, fears nothing,
And needs not _thanks_--
A _woman_, in her _country's cause_,
Can dare what man dare! [_They start up._

_Sir Alex_.--What! my Matilda!

_Richard_.--My mother!

_Henry_.--Ha! my mother!

_Lady Seton_.--Joy, joy, my sons; your mother's done her duty!
And joy, my husband, we have saved our _honour_.

_Sir Alex_.--Matilda, thou hast ta'en my heart anew,
And with it, too, my words!

_Provost Ramsay_.--The like o' this! I may weel say, what,
in the universal globe, tempted me to be a bachelor!
[_Exeunt._

XXV.

FAREWELL TO A PLACE ON THE BORDERS.

Lochmaben! I from thee must part,
'Tis destined so to be;
Thy lovely lochs, dear to my heart,
I never more may see.

The heaven of May is mirror'd clear
Within thy waters deep;
So shall my soul with loving care
Thine image ever keep.

I've seen Edina's rocky walls,
Her palaces and bowers;
I've gazed on London's lofty halls,
And monumental towers.

In yon green isle towards the west,
I've roamed without control;
And many a wild, romantic coast
Has charm'd my inmost soul.

But aye to me the sunniest rays
Have thrown their sweetest gleams
Where Bruce was born, and summer days
Inspired my youthful dreams.

The water lilies there shall rest,
And minnows round them play;
The coot shall build her floating nest,
When I am far away.

But ah! no more thy streams and glens
Shall bless my sight, Lochmaben;
Farewell, farewell, lochs, woods, and fens--
Farewell, farewell, Lochmaben!

GLOSSARY AND GENERAL INDEX.

GLOSSARY.

--A--

A', _adj._ all.

ABAK, _adv._ behind.

ABASIT, _part. pa._ confounded; abashed.

ABBACY, _s._ an abbey.

ABEE--_to let abee_, to let alone; not to meddle with.

ABEECH, ABIEGH, _adv._ aloof; "at a shy distance;" keep
aloof.

ABLE, ABLIS, ABLINS, AIBLINS, _adv._ perhaps; peradventure.

ABONE, ABOW, ABOON, ABUNE, _prep_, above.

ABOOT, _prep_, about.

AE, _adj._ one; only; single.

AFF, _adv._ off; away.

AFFCAST, _s._ a castaway.

AFFCOME, s. the termination of any business. "I gied him his
_affcome_," I gave him a down-setting, or offset.

AFEIRD, _part. pa._ afraid.

AFFHAND, _adj._ plain; honest; blunt; without
premeditation.

AFFLUFF, _adv._ extempore.

AFORE, _prep_, before.

AFFPUT, _s._ pretence for delay.

AFFPUTTING, _adj._ trifling; delaying.

AFFSIDE, _s._ offside.

AFT, _adv._ often.

AFTEN, _adv._ often.

AFTERHEND, _adv._ afterwards.

AGAYNE, _prep_, against.

AGAIT, _adv._ on the way or road.

AGEE, _adv._ to one side; ajar; a little open.

AGLEY, A-GLY, _adv._ off the right line; obliquely; wrong.

AHIND, AHINT, _adv._ behind.

AIK, _s._ the oak.

AILEN, _part. pa._ ailing.

AIN, _adj._ own.

AINS, _adv._ once.

AIR, _adv._ early in the morning.

AIR, AIRE, AYR, _s._ an heir.

AIRMS, _s. pl._ arms.

AIRN, _s._ iron.

AIRT, AIRTH, _s._ point of the compass.

AISLAIR, _adj._ a polished substance.

AITS, _s. pl._ oats.

AITEN, _adj._ oaten.

AITH, _s._ an oath.

AIZLE, _s._ a hot ember.

ALANE, _adj._ alone.

ALANG, _adv._ along.

ALD, AULD, _adj._ old.

ALMOUS, AUMES, _s. pl._ alms.

AMAIST, _adv._ almost.

AMANG, _prep._ among.

AMBRY, _s._ a press or closet where victuals are kept for
daily use.

AN', _conj_. and.

ANE, _adj._ one.

ANENT, _prep_, over against; opposite.

ANETH, _prep_, beneath.

ANEUCH, _adv._ enough.

ANIEST, _adv._ or _prep._ on this side of; on the
nearest side.

ANITHER, _adj._ another.

ANKERSTOCK, _s._ a loaf made of rye, sweetened with
treacle.

ANSE, _adv._ once.

APERT, _adj._ brisk; bold; free.

APERTLY, _adv._ briskly; readily.

APON, APOUN, _prep._ upon.

APPARELLE, _s._ equipage; furniture for warfare.

APPLERINGIE, _s._ the plant called southernwood.

ARCH, _adj._ averse; reluctant.

_To_ ARGLE-BARGLE, ARGIE-BARGIE, _v. a._ to contend;
to bandy backwards and forwards.

ARK, _s._ a large chest used for holding meal or corn.

ARK _of a Mill_, _s._ the place in which the
water-wheel moves.

_To_ ARLE, _v. a._ to give earnest of any kind.

ARLES, _s._ earnest of any kind.

ARLY, _adv._ early.

ARMYN, ARMYNG; _s._ armour; arms.

ART _and_ PART, accessory to, or abetting.

ASSE, _s._ ashes, plural _assis_ and _aiss_.

ASSHOLE, _s._ place for receiving ashes under the grate.

ASCHET, _s._ a large plate, on which meat is brought to
table.

ASK, AWSK, _s._ an eft or water newt; a lizard.

ASKLENT, ASCLENT, ASKLINT, _adv._ obliquely; asquint; on
one side.

_To_ ASSAILYIE, _v. a._ to attack, to assail.

_To_ ASSOLYIE, _v. a._ to acquit.

ASTEER, _adv._ in confusion; in a bustle.

A'THEGITHER, _adv._ altogether.

ATHORT, _prep_, through, athwart.

ATOUR, ATTOURE, _prep._ over.

ATTOMIE, _s._ a skeleton.

ATTELED, _part. pa._ aimed.

ATTER-CAP, ATTIR-COP, _s._ 1. a spider; 2. an ill-tempered
person; one of a malignant or virulent disposition.

ATWEESH, _prep_, between; betwixt.

AUGHT, _pret. pa._ possessed.

AUCHT, _s._ property; possession; that which is exclusively
one's own. _In aw my aucht_, all I am possessed of.

AUKWART, AWKWART, _prep._ across; athwart.

AULD-CLUITY, _s._ the devil.

AULDEST, _adj._ oldest; elder.

AULD, _adj._ old; aged.

AULDFARRANT, AULDFARRAND, _adj._ sagacious.

AULD-MOU'D, _adj._ sagacious in discourse. Sometimes used
as crafty.

AUMUS, _s._ an alms.

AVA, _adv._ at all.

AWA, _adv._ away.

AWFU', _adj._ awful.

AWIN, AWYN, _adj._ own. This is the common _pronoun_
in the south of Scotland; in other parts, _ain_.

AWNIE, _adj._ bearded.

AWNS, _s. pl._ the beards of corn or barley.

AWSK, _s._ the newt or eft.

AWSOME, _adj._ awful; appalling.

_To_ AX, _v. a._ to ask.

AX-TREE, _s._ an axle-tree.

AYONT, _prep._ beyond.

AY, _adv._ yes.

--B--

BABIE, BAWBIE, _s._ a halfpenny.

BACHLE, BAUCHLE, _s._ an old shoe or slipper.

BACKLINS, _adv._ backwards. _To gae backlins_, to walk
backwards, like a ropemaker.

BACKSPANG, _s._ a trick, or legal quirk; advantage taken by
one over another.

_To_ BACK-SPEIR, _v. a._ to trace a report as far back
as possible; to cross-question.

BACK-SPEIRER, _s._ a cross-examiner.

BADE, _pret_. of bide.

BADRANS, BATHRONS, _s._ a designation for a cat.

_To_ BAE, _v. n_. to bleat like sheep.

_To_ BAFF, _v. a_. to beat.

BAFF, _s._ a stroke or blow.

BAIKIE, _s._ the stake to which a cow is fastened in the
stall.

BAILIE, _s._ an alderman; the deputy of a baron in a
borough of barony.

BAIR, BAR, _s._ a boar.

BAIRD, _s._ a bard or poet.

BAIRN, BARNE, _s._ a child.

BAIRNHEID, _s._ childhood.

BAIRNLY, _adj._ childish.

BAIRNLINESS, _s._ childishness.

BAIRNS-MAID, _s._ a nursery-maid.

BAIS, _adj._ having a deep or hollow sound: bass.

_To_ BAYT, _v. n_. to feed.

BAISEE, BAIVIE, _s._ a large fire; a great blaze.

BAKE, _s._ a biscuit.

BAKSTER, BAXSTER, _s._ a baker.

BALD, BAULD, _adj._ bold; intrepid.

BALDERDASH, _s._ foolish noisy nonsense.

BALK, BURRAL, _s._ an elevated ridge, raised by a plough.

BALLANT, _s._ a ballad; a song.

BALOW, BALOO, _s._ a lullaby; a term used by nurses when
lulling children.

_To_ BAN, BANN, _v. a._ to curse.

BANNIN, _pr. pa_. swearing.

BANDKYN, _s._ a species of cloth, the warp of which is
thread of gold and the woof silk, and adorned with figures.

BANDSTER, BANSTER, _s._ one who binds sheaves after the
reapers in the harvest field.

BANE, _s._ a bone.

BANE-FYER, _s._ a bonfire.

_To_ BANG, _v. a_. to change place with impetuosity--
as, _to bang up_, to start to our feet suddenly.

BANNOCK, _s._ a cake of barley or pease meal baked on a
girdle.

BANNOCK-FLUKE, _s._ a turbot.

BAP, _s._ a thick cake, baked in an oven, with yeast in it,
and made of flour, oat meal, or barley meal, and sometimes a
mixture of two of them.

BARE, _adj._ lean; meagre; naked; uncovered.

_To_ BARKEN, _v. n_. to become hard; to clot.

BARLA-BREIKIS, BURLEY-BRAKS, _s._ a game played in a
corn-yard, running round the stacks.

BARLEY, _s._ a term used by children in games, when a
truce, or a cessation for the time, is demanded.

BARNE. See BAIRN.

BASSIE, _s._ an old horse.

BASTOUN, _s._ a heavy staff; a baton.

BAITH, _adj._ both.

BATIE, BAWTIE, _s._ a name applied to dogs, generally large
ones, without reference to sex.

BATS, _s. pl._ the bots, a disease in horses.

_To_ BATTER, _v. a_. to paste.

BAUCHLE, BACHEL, _s._ an old shoe.

BAUGH, _adj._ ungrateful to the taste.

BAUK, BAWK, _s._ a cross beam in the roof of a house.

BAUK, BAWK, _s._ a strip of land, two or three feet wide,
left unploughed.

BAUSY, _adj._ strong; big.

_To_ BAW, _v. a_. to hush; to lull in the manner of
nursing a child.

BAW, _s._ a ball.

BAWBEE, a halfpenny.

BAWDEKYN, _s._ cloth of gold.

BAXTER, _s._ a baker.

BEAR, BERE, _s._ barley.

_To_ BECK, _v_. to curtsey.

BEDRAL, _s._ a person who is bedrid.

BEGRUTTEN, _part. pa._ having the face disfigured with
weeping.

BEIK, BIKE, _s._ a hive of bees.

BEIK, BEKE, BEEK, _v. a_. to bask, as in the sun.

BEILD, BIELD, _s._ shelter; refuge.

BEIN, BANE, _s._ bone.

BIRR, _s._ noise; cry; force.

BEKE, BEIK, BEEK, _v. a._ to bask.

BELD, _adj._ bald; without hair on the head.

BELE, _s._ a fire; a blaze.

BELYVE, _adv._ by and by.

_To_ BELL THE CAT, to contend with a person of superior
rank; to withstand him, either by actions or words, especially
the former.

BELLY-THRA, _s._ the colic.

_To_ BELT, _v. a._ to gird; to flog; to scourge.

BEN, _adv._ towards the inner apartments of a house. A room
is generally called _ben_, and the kitchen _but_.

BEN-END, _s. the ben-end of a house_, the inner end of it.

BEN, BIN, _s._ a mountain.

BENE, BIEN, _adj._ wealthy; having abundance.

BENK, BINK, _s._ a bench; a seat.

BENORTH, _prep._ to the northward of.

BENSHIE, BENSHI, _s._ a fairy's wife.

BENT, _s._ a coarse grass growing on sand-hills.

BERE, BEAR, _s._ barley.

BERN, _s._ a barn.

_To_ BESEIK, _v. a._ to beseech; to entreat.

BESYNE, BYSIM, _s._ a bawd.

BESOUTH, _prep_, to the southward of.

BEST-MAN, _s._ groomsman; _best-maid_, the bridesmaid.

BETWEESH, _prep_, betwixt.

BEUCH, a branch; a bough.

BEVIE, _s._ a great fire.

_To_ BEWRY, _v. a._ to pervert, to distort.

BIB, _s._ a piece of linen used to keep the breast of a
child clean when feeding it.

BICK, _s._ a bitch; the female of the canine species.

_To_ BICKER, _v. a._ to fight with stones as
schoolboys; to run off quickly.

BICKER, BIQUOUR, _s._ a small wooden dish, made in the form
of a washing-tub, the staves being alternately black and white.

_To_ BIDE, BYDE, _v. n._ to wait for; to abide; to
endure; to suffer.

_To_ BIG, _v. a._ to build.

BIGGIN, BYGGYN, _s._ a building.

BIGGIT, _part. pa._ built.

BIKE, BEIK, BINK, _s._ a nest of wild bees or wasps.

BILGET, _adj._ bulged; swelling out.

BILLIE, BILLY, _s._ a companion; a comrade.

BINDWOOD, _s._ ivy.

BING, _s._ a heap; a pile of wood.

BINK. See BIKE.

BIRD, BURD, _s._ a bird; a damsel; a lady.

BIRDIE, _s._ a little bird.

BIRK, _s._ a birch-tree.

_To_ BIRK, _v. n._ to give a tart or sharp answer.

BIRKIN, _adj._ of or belonging to birch-wood.

BIRKY, _s._ a lively young man; a mettlesome person.

BIRL, _v. n_. to ply with drink; to club money for the
purpose of purchasing drink.

BIRN, _v. a._ to burn.

BIRS, BIRSE, _s._ a bristle.
_His birse is up_, he is in a passion.
_He's a birsie man_, he is liable to be irritated easily.

_To_ BIRSLE, _v. a._ to broil; to roast.

BIRSSY, _adj._ having bristles; hot-tempered.

_To_ BIRZE, BRIZE, _v. a._ to bruise; to drive or
push.

BISKET, BRISKET, _s._ the breast.

_To_ BISSE, BIZZ, _v. n_. to make a hissing sound, as
hot iron plunged into water.

BISSOME, BYSSYM, _s._ an unworthy female.

BIT, _s._ a vulgar term used for food.
_He takes the bit and the buffit wi't_,
he takes the food and the blow along with it.

BITTILL, BEETLE, _s._ a wooden mallet for beating clothes.

_To_ BLABBER, _v. n._ to babble; to speak
indistinctly.

BLACKAVICED, _a_. dark-complexioned.

BLACK-COCK, _s._ the black grouse.

BLACK-FISHING, _s._ fishing for salmon by torch light.

BLACK-FOOT, _s._ a person who makes matches, or goes
between a lover and his mistress.

BLAD, _s._ a large piece of anything.

BLADE, _s._ the leaf of a tree.

BLADOCH, BLEDOCH, _s._ buttermilk.

BLAE, BLA, _adj._ livid; used when the skin is discoloured
with a blow, or when chilled with cold.

BLAEBERRY, _s._ the bilberry.

BLAIDRY, _s._ nonsense; folly; silly talk.

BLAIN, _s._ a mark or blemish left by a wound.

BLAIT, _adj._ bashful; sheepish.

BLAIT-MOUIT, _adj._ sheepish; ashamed to open one's mouth,
or speak. _ Ye'r no blait_, you are very forward or
impudent--used metaphorically.

BLAITIE-BUM, _s._ a stupid, simple fellow.

BLASH, _s._ a heavy fall of rain.

BLASHY, _adj._ deluging, sweeping away, as in a flood;
thin, poor, as applied to broth or soup.

_To_ BLAST, _v. n._ to smoke. _To take a blast_,
to take a smoke.

BLATE, BLAIT, _adj._ bashful.

_To_ BLATHER, _v. n._ to talk nonsense; to talk
ridiculously.

BLATTER, _s_, a rattling noise, such as that made by a
heavy shower of rain or hail.

_To_ BLAW, _v_. to blow.

BLEAR, _s._ to obscure the sight.

BLEARD, _s._ dull of sight; having inflamed eyes.

BLEEZE, _v. n_. milk is said to be bleezed when it has
become a little sour.

BLEIB, _s._ a pustule, a blister.

_The_ BLEIBS, _s. pl._ the chicken-pox.

_To_ BLENK, BLINK, _v. n._ to open the eyes as after
slumber; to throw a glance of regard.

BLENK, BLINK, _s._ a gleam of light.

BLENT, _s._ a glance as in the quick motions of the eye.

_To_ BLETHER, _v. n._ to stammer, or speak
indistinctly, or nonsensically.

BLIN, _adj._ blind.

BLINK. See BLENK.

_To_ BLIRT, _v. n._ to burst out a-crying or weeping.

BLOB, BLAB, _s._ 1. anything circular and turned; 2. a
blister.

BLOBBIT, _part. pa._ bloated; blurred; blotched.

BLUBBER, _s._ a bubble of air.

_To_ BLUBBER, _v. a._ to cry, to weep.

BLUE-GOWN, _s._ a pensioner. Formerly all pensioners
received a blue gown on the king's birthday.

BLUID, _s._ blood.

BLUIDY, _adj._ bloody; bloodthirsty; covered with gore.

BLUITER, BLUTTER, _v. n._ to make a rumbling noise.

BLUNTIE, _s._ a stupid fellow; a sniveller.

BOAL, BOLE, _s._ a small aperture or press in a house for
the reception of small articles; a small opening in a wall for
the admission of light or air.

BOB, _s._ a curtsey.

_To_ BOCK, _v. a._ to make a noise with the throat, as
persons will frequently do before vomiting.

BOD, BODDY, _s._ a person of diminutive stature.

BODDUM, _s._ bottom.

BODE, BOD, _s._ an offer made prior to a bargain; a
proffer.

BODEN, BUDDEN, _v_. offered; proffered.

BODLE, _s._ an old copper coin of the value of two pennies
Scots, or third part of a penny English.

BOGILL, BOGLE, _s._ 1. a hobgoblin; a spectre; 2. a
scarecrow; any made-up imitation of a spectre.

BOMBILL, BUMBILL, _s._ buzzing noise.

BOMBILL-BEE, _s._ a drone.

BONIE, BONYE, BONNY, _adj._ beautiful; having a fine
countenance.

BONIEST, _adj._ the most beautiful.

BOOL, _s._ an ironical name, as applied to an old man.

BOONMOST, _adj._ uppermost.

BOORDLEY, _s._ strong; large; broad; having a manly
appearance.

BORDEL, _s._ a brothel.

BOS, BOSS, BOIS, _adj._ hollow.

BOT, BUT, _conj_. but; without anything.

BOTHE, BOOTHE, _s._ a shop made of boards.

BOTHIE, _s. pl._ a cottage; such a one as is occupied
generally for the use of servants.

BOTTINGS, BUITINGS, _s._ half boots, or leathern
spatterdashes.

BOUCHT, BOUGHT, BUCHT, _s._ a small pen used for milking
ewes.

_To_ BOUCHT, BUCHT, _v. a._ to enclose.

BOUK, BUIK, _s._ the trunk of the body; bulk.

BOUKIT, _adj._ bulky, large. _No muckle boukit_, not
of much size or dimensions.

BOUN, _adj._ prepared; ready.

BOUR, _s._ the private chamber of a lady in ancient times.

BOURTREE, BOUNTREE, _s._ common elder-tree.

BOW, _s._ a boll; eight pecks.

BOW, _s._ the arch of a bridge; a gateway; a crooked path.

BOWIE, _s._ a small cask or barrel; a milk pail.

BOWSIE, _adj._ crooked; applied to a crooked person, who is
called a _bowsie_.

BRACE, _s._ the chimney-piece.

BRACKEN, BRAIKEN, BROCKEN, _s._ the fern.

_To_ BRACK, _v. a._ to break.

BRACKIT, BRACKET, BRUCKIT, _adj._ speckled.

BRAE, _s._ tho side of a hill; an acclivity.

_To_ BRAG, _v. a._ 1. to defy; 2. to reproach.

BRAID, BRADE, _adj._ wide; broad.

BRANDNEW. See BRENTNEW.

BRANDER, _s._ a gridiron.

_To_ BRANDER, _v. n._ to broil.

BRANG, _part. pa._ brought.

BRANKS, _s._ a swelling in the glands of the neck.

BRAT, _s._ a coarse apron.

BRATCHET, BRATCHART, _s._ an opprobrious term, equivalent
to _whelp_.

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