The Scottish Works of Alexander Ross ... Consisting of Helenore, or The Fortunate Shepherdess; Songs; The Fortunate Shepherd, or The Orphan: Edited, with notes, glossary and life by Margaret Wattie |
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THE BREAST-KNOTS. |
 | The Scottish Works of Alexander Ross |  |
166
THE BREAST-KNOTS.
Hey the bonny, hey the bonny,
O the bonny breast-knots;
Tight and bonny were they a',
When they got on their breast-knots.
O the bonny breast-knots;
Tight and bonny were they a',
When they got on their breast-knots.
1
There was a bridal in this town,And till't the lasses a' were boun',
With mankie facings on their gown,
And some of them had breast-knots.
Hey the bonny, &c.
2
And there was mony a lusty lad,As ever handled grape and gaud,
I wat their manhood well they shaw'd
At ruffling of the breast-knot.
Hey the bonny, &c.
3
At nine o'clock they did conveen,Some clad in blue, some clad in green,
Wi' glancing buckles in their sheen,
And flowers upon their waist-coat.
Hey the bonny, &c.
4
The bride by this time was right fain,When that she saw sae light a train,
She pray'd the day might keep frae rain,
For spoiling of their breast-knots.
Hey the bonny, &c.
5
Forth came the wives a' wi' a phrase,And wish'd the lassie happy days,
And muckle thought they of her claiths,
And specially the breast-knots.
Hey the bonny, &c.
167
6
Forth spake the mither, fan she saw,The bride and maidens a' sae bra',
Wi' cackling clouts, black be their fa',
They have made a bonny cast o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
7
Next down their breakfast it was set,Some barley lippies of milk meat,
It leiped them it was sae het,
As soon as they did taste o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
8
Till some frae them the spoons they threw,And swore that they had burnt their mou
And some into their cutty blew,
I wat their will they mist not.
Hey the bonny, &c.
9
When ilka ane had claw'd their plate,The piper lad he looked blate
Altho' they said that he should eat,
I trow he lost the best o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
10
Syne forth they got a' wi' a loup,O'er creels and deals and a' did coup,
The piper said, wi' them d---l scoup,
He'd make a hungry feast o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
11
Syne off they got a' wi' a fling,Each lass unto her lad did cling,
And a' cry'd for a different spring,
The bride she sought the breast-knot.
Hey the bonny, &c.
168
12
Fan they ty'd up their marriage band,At the bridegroom's they neist did land,
Forth came auld Madge wi' her split mawn
And bread and cheese a hist o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
13
She took a quarter and a third,On the bride's head she gae a gird,
Till farls flew athort the yird,
And parted round the rest o't.
Hey the bonny, &c.
14
The bride then by the hand they tookTwice, thrice they led her round ye crook,
Some said goodwife well mat ye brook,
And some great count they cast not.
Hey the bonny, &c.
15
All ran to kilns and barns in ranks,Some sat on deals, and some on planks,
The piper lad stood on his shanks,
And dirled up the breast knot.
Hey the bonny, hey the bonny,
O the bonny breast knots;
Tight and bonny were they a',
When they got on their breast knots.
O the bonny breast knots;
Tight and bonny were they a',
When they got on their breast knots.
| The Scottish Works of Alexander Ross | |