The Writings of Bret Harte standard library edition |
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THE BAILIE O' PERTH
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 | The Writings of Bret Harte |  |
THE BAILIE O' PERTH
(Bret Harte's first dialect poem)
The Bailie o' Perth was a blithesome mon,
And a blithesome mon was he,
And his gude wife lov'd him well and true,
And the bailie he lov'd she;
Yet mickle or muckle the cause or kind,
Whatever the pother be,
Be it simple sair or unco deep,
The twain could never agree.
And a blithesome mon was he,
And his gude wife lov'd him well and true,
And the bailie he lov'd she;
Yet mickle or muckle the cause or kind,
Whatever the pother be,
Be it simple sair or unco deep,
The twain could never agree.
Syne spake the bailie with blithesome mind,
Fair and soft spake he:
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
Yet we can never agree.
Now, my ain sweet love, let us try for aye,
Forever and aye to see
If for ain blest time in all our life,
You and I can ever agree.
Fair and soft spake he:
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
Yet we can never agree.
Now, my ain sweet love, let us try for aye,
Forever and aye to see
297
You and I can ever agree.
“Now listen to me: should it chance that ye
Were paidlint in the lane,
Ye should meet a bonnie buxom lass,
And a winsome laddie, twain,
Wha wad ye kiss, good dame?” he said,
“Wha wad ye kiss?” said he;
“Wad ye kiss the bonnie buxom lass,
Or the winsome gay laddie?”
Were paidlint in the lane,
Ye should meet a bonnie buxom lass,
And a winsome laddie, twain,
Wha wad ye kiss, good dame?” he said,
“Wha wad ye kiss?” said he;
“Wad ye kiss the bonnie buxom lass,
Or the winsome gay laddie?”
“Hoot awa, mon! are ye ganging daft?
Are ye ganging daft?” said she;
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
And I have been true to ye;
Mon hae never my twa lips touched,
Nae mon hae glinted at me.”
“But wha wad ye kiss, good dame?” said he;
“I wad kiss the lass,” said she.
Are ye ganging daft?” said she;
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
And I have been true to ye;
Mon hae never my twa lips touched,
Nae mon hae glinted at me.”
“But wha wad ye kiss, good dame?” said he;
“I wad kiss the lass,” said she.
Out laughed the bailie with muckle glee,
For a blithesome mon was he;
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
And now for ainst we agree;
If ye met a lad and a buxom lass
Down in the gowans fine,
To kiss the lass wad be your choice,
And I ken it wad be mine!”
For a blithesome mon was he;
“Twal lang year hae we married been,
And now for ainst we agree;
If ye met a lad and a buxom lass
Down in the gowans fine,
To kiss the lass wad be your choice,
And I ken it wad be mine!”
| The Writings of Bret Harte | |