The Poetry of Robert Burns Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson |
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THE FIVE CARLINS |
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| III. |
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 | The Poetry of Robert Burns |  |
177
THE FIVE CARLINS
I
There was five carlins in the South:They fell upon a scheme
To send a lad to Lon'on town
To bring them tidings hame:
II
Nor only bring them tidings hame,But do their errands there:
And aiblins gowd and honor baith
Might be that laddie's share.
III
There was Maggie by the banks o' Nith,A dame wi' pride eneugh;
And Marjorie o' the Monie Lochs,
A carlin auld and teugh;
178
IV
And Blinkin Bess of Annandale,That dwelt near Solway-side;
And Brandy Jean, that took her gill
In Galloway sae wide;
V
And Black Joán, frae Crichton Peel,O' gipsy kith an' kin:
Five wighter carlins were na found
The South countrie within.
VI
To send a lad to London townThey met upon a day;
And monie a knight and monie a laird
This errand fain wad gae.
VII
O, monie a knight and monie a lairdThis errand fain wad gae;
But nae ane could their fancy please,
O, ne'er a ane but tway!
VIII
The first ane was a belted Knight,Bred of a Border band;
And he wad gae to London Town,
Might nae man him withstand;
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IX
And he wad do their errands weel,And meikle he wad say;
And ilka ane at London court
Wad bid to him guid-day.
X
The neist cam in, a Soger boy,And spak wi' modest grace;
And he wad gae to London Town,
If sae their pleasure was.
XI
He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,Nor meikle speech pretend;
But he wad hecht an honest heart
Wad ne'er desert his friend.
XII
Now wham to chuse and wham refuseAt strife thae carlins fell;
For some had gentle folk to please,
And some wad please themsel.
XIII
Then out spak mim-mou'd Meg o' Nith,And she spak up wi' pride,
And she wad send the Soger lad,
Whatever might betide.
180
XIV
For the auld Guidman o' London courtShe didna care a pin;
But she wad send the Soger lad
To greet his eldest son.
XV
Then up sprang Bess o' Annandale,And swore a deadly aith,
Says:—‘I will send the belted Knight,
Spite of you carlins baith!
XVI
‘For far-aff fowls hae feathers fair,And fools o' change are fain;
But I hae tried this Border Knight:
I'll try him yet again.’
XVII
Then Brandy Jean spak owre her drink:—‘Ye weel ken, kimmers a’,
The auld Guidman o' London court,
His back's been at the wa';
XVIII
‘And monie a friend that kiss'd his caupIs now a fremit wight;
But it's ne'er be sae wi' Brandy Jean—
I'll send the Border Knight.’
181
XIX
Says Black Joán frae Crichton Peel,A carlin stoor and grim:—
‘The auld Guidman or the young Guidman
For me may sink or swim!
XX
‘For fools will prate o' right or wrang,While knaves laugh in their slieve;
But wha blaws best the horn shall win—
I'll spier nae courtier's leave!’
XXI
Then slow raise Marjorie o' the Lochs,And wrinkled was her brow,
Her ancient weed was russet gray,
Her auld Scots heart was true:—
XXII
‘There's some great folk set light by me,I set as light by them;
But I will send to London town
Wham I lo'e best at hame.’
XXIII
Sae how this sturt and strife may end,There's naebody can tell.
God grant the King and ilka man
May look weel to themsel!
| The Poetry of Robert Burns | |