University of Virginia Library


182

The Water o Gamery

RARE WILLIE DROWNED IN YARROW, OR, THE WATER O GAMRIE—F

[_]

Buchan MSS, II, 159.

1

Whan Willie was in his saddle set,
And all his merry men wi him,
‘Stay still, stay still, my merry men all,
I've forgot something behind me.

2

‘Gie me God's blessing an yours, mither,
To hae me on to Gamery;
Gie me God's blessing an yours, mither,
To gae to the bride-stool wi me.’

3

‘I'll gie ye God's blessing an mine, Willie,
To hae you on to Gamery;
Ye's hae God's blessing an mine, Willie,
To gae to the bride-stool wi you.

4

[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
‘But Gamery it is wide and deep,
An ye'll never see your wedding;’

5

Some rede back, an some rede fore,
An some rede on to Gamery;
The bonniest knight's saddle among them all
Stood teem in the Water o Gamery.

6

Out it spake the bride hersell,
Says, What makes all this riding?
Where is the knight amongst you all
Aught me this day for wedding?

7

Out it spake the bridegroom's brother,
Says, Margaret, I'll tell you plainly;
The knight ye should hae been wedded on
Is drownd in the Water o Gamery.

8

She's torn the ribbons aff her head —
They were baith thick an mony —
She kilted up her green claithing,
And she has passed the Gamery.

9

She's plunged in, so did she down,
That was baith black an jumly,
And in the middle o that water
She found her ain sweet Willie.

10

She's taen him in her arms twa
And gied him kisses many:
‘My mother's be as wae as thine!
We'll baith lie in the Water o Gamery.’