The Clerks o Owsenfoord
THE CLERK'S TWA SONS O OWSENFORD—B
[_]
Noted down from a female servant by Dr Joseph Robertson,
July 15, 1829; “Adversaria,” p. 67.
1
‘De weel, de weel, my twa young sons,
An learn weel at the squeel;
Tak no up wi young women-kin,
An learn to act the feel.’
2
But they had na been in Blomsbury
A twalmon and a day,
Till the twa pretty clerks o Owsenfoord
Wi the mayr's dauchters did lay.
3
Word has gaen till the auld base mayr,
As he sat at his wine,
That the twa pretty clerks o Owsenford
Wi his daughters had lien.
4
Then out bespak the auld base mayr,
An an angry man was he:
‘Tomorrow, before I eat meat or drink,
I'll see them hanged hie.’
5
But word has gaen to Owsenfoord
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Before the letter was read,
She let the tears doun fa.
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6
‘Your sons are weel, an verra weel,
An learnin at the squeel;
But I fear ye winna see your sons
At the holy days o Yeel.’
7
Their father he went to Bloomsbury,
He turnit him roun about,
An there he saw his twa braw sons,
In the prison, leukin out.
8
‘O lie ye there for owsen, my sons,
Or lie ye there for kye?
Or lie ye there for dear fond love,
Si closs as ye de lie?’
9
‘We lie na here for owsen, father,
We lie na here for kye,
But we lie here for dear fond love,
An we're condemned to die.’
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10
Then out bespak the clerks' fader,
An a sorry man was he:
‘Gae till your bowers, ye lillie-flowers,
For a' this winna dee.’
11
Then out bespak the aul base mayr,
An an angry man was he:
‘Gar to your bowers, ye vile base whores,
Ye'll see them hanged hie.’
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