...last gasp his gab did gape; Five tomahawks, wi' bluid red-rusted; Five scimitars, wi' murder crusted; A garter, which a babe had strangled; A knife, a father's...curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious: The piper loud and louder blew; The dancers quick and quicker flew; They reel'd, they set, they cross'd,...

...last gasp his gab did gape; Five tomahawks wi' bluid red-rusted; Five scymitars wi' murder crusted; A garter which a babe had strangled; A knife a father's throat had mangled— Whom his ain son o' Me bereft— The grey-hairs yet stack to the heft; Wi' mair of horrible and awefu', Which even to name...

...gasp his gab did gape ; Five tomahawks, wi" blutV red-rusted ; Five scymitars wi' murder crusted ; A garter, which a babe had strangled; A knife, a father's throat had mangled, Whom his ain son o1 life bereft, The grey hairs yet stack to the heft; Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu', Which even to...

...last gasp his gab did gape; Five tomahawks, wi' bluid red-rusted; Five scymitars, wi' murder crusted; A garter, which a babe had strangled; A knife, a father's...life bereft — The gray hairs yet stack to the heft; 140 Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu', Which even to name wad be unlawfu'. As Tammie glowered, amazed...

...its cauld hand held a light. But when I came to die succeeding lines, my blood ran cold within me : A knife a father's throat had mangled — Whom his ain son o' life bereft — The grey hairs yet stack to the heft. And here, after two following lines, ' Wi' mair of horrible and awefu',...

..."Tarn o' Shanter" and culminates in sometimes near frenzy, as when Tarn gapes at the dancing witches: As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious; The piper loud and louder blew; The dancers quick and quicker flew; They reel'd, they set, they cross'd,...

...describing the scene, has drifted back from Scots to a very light Scots register verging on English ('As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious, | The mirth and fun grew fast and furious' (11. 143-4)), but as soon as he focuses on the dancing girls he returns to Scots (linket at it in her...