My Friend and Pitcher/I Had a Horse
For other versions of this work, see I had a Horse.
I HAD A HORSE.
I had a horse, and I had nae mair,I gat it frae my daddie;My purse was light, and my heart was sair,But my wit it was fu' ready.So I bethought me on a time,Outwittens o' my daddie,To fee mysel to a Lawland laird,Wha had a bonnie lady.
I wrote a letter, and thus began:Madam, be not offended:I'm owre the lugs in love wi' you,And I carena though ye kend it:For I get little frae the laird,And far less frae my daddie;Yet I wad blythely be the manWad strive to please my lady.
She read my letter, and she leugh;Ye needna been sae blate, man,Ye might hae come to me yoursel,And tald me o' your state, man:Ye might hae come to me yoursel,Outwittens o' onie body, And made John Goukston o' the laird,And kiss'd his bonny lady.
Then she pat siller in my purse;We drank wine in a cogie;She fee'd a man for to rub my horse,And vow but I was vogie!But I ne'er gat sae sair a flegSince I cam frae my daddie;The laird cam, rap, rap! to the yett,When I was wi' his lady.
Then she pat me behint a chair,And hap'd me wi' a plaidie;Where I was like to swarf wi' fear,And wish'd me wi' my daddie.The laird gaed out, he saw na me,I staid till I was ready;I promis'd, but I ne'er gaed backTo see his bonny lady.