The poetical works of William Nicholson With a memoir by Malcolm M'L. Harper ... Fourth edition |
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ANNANDALE ROBIN. |
 | The poetical works of William Nicholson |  |
194
ANNANDALE ROBIN.
Young Robin had been at the market,
And hired himsel' wi' Craigfast;
Forbye the wee drap in his noddle,
Had got a' the wages he asked.
He wha had been touned out wi' tenants,
Would soon be head man to the laird—
A point at baith shearin' and mawin',
And bigg a' the ricks i' the yaird.
And hired himsel' wi' Craigfast;
Forbye the wee drap in his noddle,
Had got a' the wages he asked.
He wha had been touned out wi' tenants,
Would soon be head man to the laird—
A point at baith shearin' and mawin',
And bigg a' the ricks i' the yaird.
It's right aye for lads to live canty,
And lasses, till they get a man;
For fouks to be social and sober;
And aye as content as they can.
And lasses, till they get a man;
For fouks to be social and sober;
And aye as content as they can.
The moor-hags were wide—but he sten'd them,
He staptna for stick nor for stane;
Till down by the scroggs o' Congailly,
He met bonny Bet a' her lane.
A'e luck on the back o' anither:
He lang wished her kindness to seek;
Nae scene could be sweeter for wooin'
What time was he fitter to speak?
He staptna for stick nor for stane;
Till down by the scroggs o' Congailly,
He met bonny Bet a' her lane.
A'e luck on the back o' anither:
He lang wished her kindness to seek;
Nae scene could be sweeter for wooin'
What time was he fitter to speak?
It's right aye for lads to live canty, &c.
“Stay still, tell us where ye've been daundering—
For me I hae been at the town;
See sic a braw knowe there forenent us,
Would maist tempt a saint to sit down.
Hech me! but it's lang since I saw ye,
And vow! ye're grown gaudy and grand;
The chiels will sae pester and plague ye,
For peace sake ye maun tak' a man.”
For me I hae been at the town;
See sic a braw knowe there forenent us,
Would maist tempt a saint to sit down.
Hech me! but it's lang since I saw ye,
And vow! ye're grown gaudy and grand;
195
For peace sake ye maun tak' a man.”
It's right aye for lads to live canty, &c.
But Bet lookit blate like and bashfu',
She sighed and said naething ava;
Hung her head—rowed a strae round her finger,
Gar't Robin aye closer to draw.
He prest her, he courtit, he clappit,
Snapt a kiss, for it weel on was dark;
When, to crown a' his hopes in a hurry,
She haflins said aye in a hark.
She sighed and said naething ava;
Hung her head—rowed a strae round her finger,
Gar't Robin aye closer to draw.
He prest her, he courtit, he clappit,
Snapt a kiss, for it weel on was dark;
When, to crown a' his hopes in a hurry,
She haflins said aye in a hark.
It's right aye for lads to live canty, &c.
Aye lyin' ane's lane soons grows dowie;
Sae Robin thought lang for a spouse;
Farewell to the freaks o' the market,
The lang wage and braw gentle house.
The auld fouks were couthy and kindly,
The bridal was hurried aff han';
Sae kindly's they cuddled thegither,
But houses, or haddin, or lan'.
Sae Robin thought lang for a spouse;
Farewell to the freaks o' the market,
The lang wage and braw gentle house.
The auld fouks were couthy and kindly,
The bridal was hurried aff han';
Sae kindly's they cuddled thegither,
But houses, or haddin, or lan'.
It's right aye for lads to live canty, &c.
But wha can tell how things may alter,
Or what a half-year brings about;
For Robin turned dowffer and duller,
As Betty began to speak out.
She cries out for this thing and that thing,
Like a bell through his lug her tongue twangs;
And aye siccan matches she might ha'en,
While he sits as dumb as the tangs.
Or what a half-year brings about;
For Robin turned dowffer and duller,
As Betty began to speak out.
She cries out for this thing and that thing,
Like a bell through his lug her tongue twangs;
And aye siccan matches she might ha'en,
While he sits as dumb as the tangs.
It's right aye for lads to live canty, &c.
| The poetical works of William Nicholson | |