1793 Poem, Samuel Thomson, ‘The Unfortunate Fiddler’
Author: ’Samuel Thomson
Date: 1793
Source: Poem: ‘The Unfortunate Fiddler’, from Poems, on Different Subjects, partly in the Scottish Dialect by Samuel Thomson (Belfast: printed for the author, 1793).
Comments: Samuel Thomson (1766–1816) from Lyles Hill near Templepatrick in South Antrim was the editor of the ‘Poets’ Corner’ in the Belfast United Irishman newspaper Northern Star until the paper was closed down in 1797. He exchanged poems with, and visited, Robert Burns, and published three books containing Ulster-Scots poetry — in 1793, 1799 and 1806. An account of his life and poetry can be found in the Introduction to The Country Rhymes of Samuel Thomson, by Philip Robinson and Ernest Scott (Belfast, 1992).
Doc. ref. no.: USLS/TB/Poetry/1700-1799/021
The UNFORTUNATE FIDDLER.
Ae day a wan’ring fiddler, lame,
Upon a brig sat far frae hame;
Frae tim’er case alias frame,
He drew’s bread winner,
And on the range-wa’ laid the same,
Alas poor sinner!
For lo, a wild unsonsy blast,
Down to the stream his fiddle cast;
Whilk hopeless on the current past,
Wi’ monie a hobble,
Leaving its master all aghast,
Beset wi’ trouble.
While he, wi’ monie a girn an’ sigh,
Bewail’d his luckless destiny,
A countra’ lout was drawing nigh,
Wha frank and jolly,
Enquir’d at him the reason why
Sae melancholy?
Then bleering up, he ’gan explain
The sad occasion of his pain;
The ‘big roun’ tears,’ like draps o’ rain,
Fell o’er his beard —
‘Your case I pity,’ quoth the swain,
’Tis e’en right hard.
Pity my case ye senseless bl-----r!
Ye quite misunderstand the matter —
Pity my fiddle, down the water!
My case ye see’t —
‘Humph,’ quo’ the fellow such ill-natur’,
The Deel gae wi’t.