RARE WILLIE DROWNED IN YARROW, OR, THE WATER O GAMRIE—D
[_]
Skene MS., p. 47; taken down from recitation in the
north of Scotland, 1802-3.
1
‘Willie's fair, and Willie's rare,
An he is wondrous bonnie,
An Willie has promist to marry me,
Gin ever he marry ony.’
2
‘Ye's get Jammie, or ye's [get] Johnnie,
Or ye's get bonny Peter;
Ye's get the wale o a' my sons,
But leave me Willie the writer.’
3
‘I winna hae Jamie, I winna hae Johnie,
I winna hae bonny Peter;
I winna hae ony o a' your sons,
An I get na Willie the writer.’
4
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
There was threescore and ten brisk young men
Was boun to briddal-stool wi him:
5
‘Ride on, ride on, my merry men a',
I forgot something behind me;
I forgat my mither's blessing,
To hae to bride-stool wi me.’
6
‘God's blessin an mine gae wi ye, Willie,
God's blessing an mine gae wi ye;
For ye're nae ane hour but bare nineteen,
Fan ye're gauin to meet your Meggie.’
7
They rode on, and farther on,
Till they came to the water of Gamrie,
An they a' wan safe through,
Unless it was sweet Willie.
8
The first ae step that Willie's horse steppit,
He steppit to the bridle;
The next ae step that Willie's horse steppit,
Toom grew Willie's saddle.
9
They rod on, an farther on,
Till they came to the kirk of Gamrie.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
10
Out spak the bonny bride,
[OMITTED]
‘Whar is the man that's to gie me his han
This day at the kirk of Gamrie?’
11
Out spak his brother John,
An O bat he was sorrie!
‘It fears me much, my bonny bride,
He sleeps oure soun in Gamerie.’
12
The ribbons that were on her hair —
An they were thick and monny —
She rive them a', let them down fa,
An is on[to] the water o Gamerie.
13
She sought it up, she sought it down,
She sought it braid and narrow;
An in the deepest pot o Gamerie,
There she got sweet Willie.
14
She has kissd his comely mouth,
As she had done before [O]:
‘Baith our mithers sall be alike sorry,
For we's baith sleep in Gamery.’
