University of Virginia Library


169

THE BRIDAL O'T.

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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

1

They say that Jockey'll speed weel o't,
They say that Jockey'll speed weel o't,
For he grows brawer ilka day;
I hope we'll hae a bridal o't.
For yesternight nae farder gane,
The backhouse at the sidewa' o't
He there wi' Meg was mirden seen,
I hope we'll hae a bridal o't.

2

An we had but a bridal o't,
An we had but a bridal o't,
We'd leave the rest unto gude luck
Altho' there should betide ill o't;
For bridal days are merry times
And young folks like the coming o't,
And Scribblers they bang up their rhymes
And Pipers they the bumming o't.

3

The lasses like a bridal o't,
The lasses like a bridal o't,
Their braws maun be in rank and file
Altho' that they should guide ill o't:
The boddom o' the kist is then
Turn'd up unto the immost o't,
The end that held the keeks sae clean
Is now become the teemest o't.

4

The bangster at the threshing o't,
The bangster at the threshing o't,
Afore it comes is fidgin fain
And ilka day's a clashing o't;
He'll sell his jerkin for a groat,
His linder for anither o't,
And ere he want to clear his shot,
His sark'll pay the tither o't.

170

5

The Pipers and the Fiddlers o't,
The Pipers and the Fiddlers o't,
Can smell a bridal unco far
And like to be the middlers o't:
Fan thick and threefald they convene
Ilk ane envies the tither o't,
And wishes nane but him alane
May ever see anither o't.

6

Fan they hae done wi' eating o't,
Fan they hae done wi' eating o't,
For dancing they gae to the green,
And aiblins to the beating o't:
He dances best that dances fast,
And loups at ilka reesing o't,
And claps his hands frae hough to hough,
And furls about the feezings o't.