Four Comic Songs/Maggy Lauder
For other versions of this work, see Maggy Lauder.
Maggy Lauder.
Wha wadna be in loveWi' bonny Maggy Lauder? A piper met her gaun to Fife,And speer'd what was't they ca'd her;Right scornfully she answer'd him,"Begone, you hallanjauker;Jog on your gate, you bladder-skate,My name is Maggy Lauder."
"Maggy", quoth he, "and, by my bags.I'm fidging fain to see thee;Sit down by me, my bonny bird,In troth I winna steer thee:For I'm a piper to my trade,My name is Rob the Ranter,The lasses loup as they were fain,When I blaw up my chanter."
"Piper," quoth Meg. "hae ye your bags?Or is your drone in order?If ye be Rob, I've heard of you.—Live ye upon the border?The lasses a' baith far and near,Hae hard of Rob the Ranter,I'll shake my foot wi right good will,Gif ye'll blaw up your chanter."
Then to his bags he flew wi' speed,About the drone he twisted;Meg up and wallop'd o'er the green,For brawly could she frisk it."Weel done," quoth he "play up," quoth she;"Weel bobb'd," quoth Rob the Ranter;"'Tis worth my while to play indeed,When I get sic a dancer."
"Weel hae you play'd your part," quoth Meg;"Your cheeks are like the crimson;There's nane in Scotland plays sae weel,Since we lost Habby Simpson.I've liv'd in Fife, baith maid and wife,These ten years and a quarter;Gin ye should come to Anster fair,Speer ye for Maggy Lauder.