Chapter Orsino to O'Shanter of O by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Oseway (Dame), the ewe, in the beast-epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).

O’Shanter (Tam), a farmer, who, returning home from Ayr very late and well soaked with liquor, had to pass the kirk of Alloway. Seeing it was illuminated, he peeped in, and saw there the witches and devils dancing, while old Clootie was blowing the bagpipes. Tam got so excited that he roared out to one of the dancers, “Weel done, Cutty Sark! Weel done!” In a moment all was dark. Tam now spurred his “grey mare Meg” to the top of her speed, while all the fiends chased after him. The river Doon was near, and Tam just reached the middle of the bridge when one of the witches, whom he called Cutty Sark, touched him; but it was too late—he had passed the middle of the stream, and was out of the power of the crew. Not so his mare’s tail—that had not yet passed the magic line, and Cutty Sark, clinging thereto, dragged it off with an infernal wrench.—Burns: Tam O’Shanter.