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A HIGHLANDER ONCE FOUGHT A FRENCHMAN AT MARGATE, by                     Poet's Biography
Last Line: That I scarce can distinguish my right ear from t' other


''aA Highlander once fought a Frenchman at Margate,
The weapons a rapier, a backsword and target.
Brisk Monsieur advanced as fast as he could,
But all his fine pushes were caught in the wood;
While Sawney with backsword did slash him and nick him,
While t' other, enraged that he could not once prick him,
Cried, '' Sirrah, you rascal, you son of a whore,
Me'll fight you, begar, if you'll come from your door!''
Our case is the same; if you'll fight like a man,
Don't fly from my weapon, and skulk behind Dan;
For he's not to be pierced; his leather's so tough
The devil himself can't get through his buff.
Besides I cannot but say that it is hard
Not only to make him your shield, but your vizard;
And like a tragedian, you rant and you roar
Through the horrible grin of your larva's wide bore.
Nay, farther, which makes me complain much and frump it,
You make his long nose your loud speaking trumpet,
With the din of which tube my head you so bother
That I scarce can distinguish my right ear from t' other.





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