I had a horse (1815-1825)/I had a horse

I HAD A HORSE.

I had a horse, and I had nae mair,
I gat him frae my daddie,
My purse was light, and my heart was sair,
But my wit it was fu' ready.
And sae I thought me on a time,
Outwitens o' my daddie,
To fee mysel' to a lowland laird,
Wha had a bonnie lady.

I wrote a letter, and thus began;
Madam be not offended,
I'm o'er the lugs in love wi' you,
And care na' though you kend it;
For I get little frae the laird,
And far less frae my daddy,
And I wad blythely be the man,
Wad strive to please his lady.

She read the letter and she leugh,
Ye needna been sae blate, man,
You might hae come to me yoursel',
And tauld me o' your state man;
You might hae come to me yoursel',
Outwittens o' ony body,
And made John Goukstoan o' the laird,
And kiss'd his bonny lady.

Then she pat siller in my purse,
We drank wine out o' a' coggie,
She fee'd a man to rub my horse,
And vow but I was vogie,
But I gat ne'er sae sair a fleg,
Since I cam frae my daddy,
The laird cam rap, rap to the yett,
When I was wi' his lady.

Then she put me behint a chair,
And hap'd me we a plaidie,
But I was like to swarf wi' fear,
And wish'd me wi' my daddy
The laird gaed out, he saw na me;
I gaed when I was ready:
I promis'd, but I ne'er gaed back,
To see his bonnie lady.

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