His locked, lettered, braw brass collar Showed him the gentleman an' scholar.

Misled by fancy's meteor ray, By passion driven; But yet the light that led astray Was light from heaven.

An' there began a lang digression About the lords o' the creation.

It's hardly in a body's pow'r, To keep, at times, frae being sour.

I expect you'll be becoming a schoolmaster, sir. That's what most of the gentlemen does, sir, that gets sent down for indecent behaviour.

Men sholde wedden after hir estat, For youthe and elde is often at debat.

I spoke to my young host: 'If you would, tell me the meaning of the bronze figure in the shape of shameful parts hanging from the man's belt. I had seen a numb…