The Beggar-Laddie
THE BEGGAR-LADDIE—C
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 249; from the recitation of Miss
Ann Wilson, of the Tontine Inn, Paisley, who learned it
from the cook in her father's house.
1
Down in yonder garden gay,
Where many a ladie does repair,
Where many a ladie does repair,
Puing of flowers sae bonnie.
2
‘O do you see yon shepherd's son,
Feeding his flocks in yonder loan,
Feeding his flocks in yonder loan?
Vow but he feeds them bonnie!’
3
‘O laddie, laddie, what is your trade?
Or by what means do you win your bread?
Or by what means do you win your bread?
O laddie, tell unto me.’
4
‘By making spindles is my trade,
Or whorles in the time o need,
And by which ways I do win my bread:
O lady, do you love me?’
5
‘As Judas loved a piece of gold,
As Jacob loved Rachel of old,
As Jacob loved Rachel of old,
O laddie, I do love thee.’
6
‘You must put off your robes of silk,
You must put on my cloutit claes,
And follow me hard at my back,
And ye'll be my beggar-lassie.’
7
She's put aff her robes of silk,
And she's put on his cloutit claes,
And she's followed him hard at his back,
And she's been his beggar-lassie.
8
O when they cam to [the] borrowstoun,
Vow but the lassie lookit doun!
Vow but the lassie lookit doun!
Following her beggar-laddie.
9
O when they cam to Stirling toun,
He coft a loaf and they baith sat doun,
He coft a loaf and they baith sat doun,
And she's eaten wi her beggar-laddie.
10
‘O do you see yon hie, hie hill,
Where the corn grows baith rank and tall?
If I was there, I would greet my fill,
Where naebody wuld see me.’
11
When they came to his brother's hall,
Vow but he chappit loud and schill!
‘Don't chap sae loud,’ the lassie said,
‘For we may be fund faut wi.’
12
Four-and-twenty gentlemen,
And twice as many gay ladies,
And twice as many gay ladies,
Came to welcome in the lassie.
13
His brother led her thro the hall,
With laughter he was like to fall;
He said, I think we should beg it all,
For she is a bonnie lassie.
14
‘You must put aff your cloutit claes,
You must put on your robes of silk,
You must put on your robes of silk,
For ye are a young knicht's ladye.’
