Willie, the Kitchie-Boy
THE KITCHIE-BOY—E
[_]
Joseph Robertson's Note-Book “Adversaria,” p. 88; from
tradition.
1
And she has built a lofty ship,
And set her to the main;
The masts o her were o gude reed gowd,
And the sails o silver clear.
2
‘Ye winna bide three months awa
When ye'll return again,
In case your lady lichter be,
And your baby want the name.’
3
But the wind blew high,
The mariners they did land at Lundin soon.
4
A lady sat on the castell-wa,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw this lofty ship,
Comin sailin in the Downs.
5
‘Look out, look out, my maidens a',
Ye seena what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailed the sea,
And the master o her's the bonniest boy
That ever my eyes did see.’
6
She's taen her mantell her about,
Her cane intill her han,
And she's away to the shore-side,
Till invite the square to dine.
7
‘O will ye come to our castell?
Or will ye sup or dine?’
‘O excuse me, madam,’ he said,
‘For I hae but little time.’
[OMITTED]
8
The wind blew high,
The mariners they did land at home again.
9
The old man sat in the castell-wa,
Beholding dale and down,
And there he spied this goodly ship
Come sailin to the town.
10
‘Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,
Ye see not what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailed the sea.
11
‘And the master o her's the bonniest boy
That my eyes did ever see,
And if I were a woman as I'm a man
My husband he should be.’
12
‘Haud far awa frae me, fader,
Haud far awa frae me,
For I never had a lad but ane,
And he's far awa at sea.
13
‘There is a love-token atween us twa,
It'll be mair ere it be less,
An aye the langer he bides awa
It will the mair encreass.’
14
He's taen his mantell him about,
His cane intil his hand,
And he's awa to the shore-side,
To invite the square to dine.
15
‘O will ye come to our castle?
Or will ye sup or dine?’
‘Indeed I will, kind sir,’ he said,
‘Tho I've but little time.’
16
The lady sat on castle-wa,
Beholding dale and down,
But he's put his veil upon his face,
That she might not him ken.
[OMITTED]
