presentation stanzas to correspondents

    factor john! factor john, whom the lord made alone,

    and ne'er made anither, thy peer,

    thy poor servant, the bard, in respectful regard,

    he presents thee this token sincere,

    factor john! he presents thee this token sincere.

    afton's laird! afton's laird, when your pen can be spared,

    a copy of this i bequeath,

    on the same sicker score as i mention'd before,

    to that trusty auld worthy, clackleith,

    afton's laird! to that trusty auld worthy, clackleith.