The Jolly Beggars : Merry Andrew
written in 1785
The Jolly Beggars : Merry Andrew - context Summary
From the Merry Muses
Written in 1785 and associated with the bawdy collection The Merry Muses of Caledonia, this poem is a comic, conversational monologue in Scots that stages a self‑declared professional fool. The speaker defends drinking, womanizing and public buffoonery by contrasting honest folly with hypocritical respectability. He ridicules social and religious pretensions, celebrates rough conviviality, and ends by claiming superior sanity in owning his own vice. The tone and register imply performance among friends rather than formal public sermonising.
Read Complete AnalysesSir Wisdom's a fool when he's fou; Sir Knave is a fool in a session; He's there but a 'prentice I trow, But I am a fool by profession. My grannie she bought me a beuk, An' I held awa to the school; I fear I my talent misteuk, But what will ye hae of a fool? For drink I would venture my neck; A hizzie's the half of my craft; But what could ye other expect Of ane that's avowedly daft? I ance was tied up like a stirk, For civilly swearing and quaffin; I ance was abus'd i' the kirk, For towsing a lass i' my daffin. Poor Andrew that tumbles for sport, Let naebody name wi' a jeer; There's even, I'm tauld, i' the Court A tumbler ca'd the Premier. Observ'd ye yon reverend lad Mak faces to tickle the mob; He rails at our mountebank squad, - It's rivalship just i' the job. And now my conclusion I'll tell, For faith I'm confoundedly dry; The chiel that's a fool for himsel', Guid Lord! he's far dafter than I.
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