[Attributed to James V of Scotland and said to celebrate one of his own adventures with country girls].
The pauky auld carle came ovir the leesly or artful Wi’ mony good-eens and days to mee, Saying, Goodwife, for zour courtesie, Will ze lodge a silly poor man?frail The night was cauld, the carle was wat, And down azont the ingle he sat;beyond My dochters shoulders he gan to clap, And cadgily ranted and sang.cheerfully
“O wow!” quo he, “were I as free, As first when I saw this countrie, How blyth and merry wad I bee! become wearyAnd I wad nevir think lang.” livelyHe grew canty, and she grew fain, her old mother knowBut little did her auld minny ken What thir slee twa togither were sayn, busyWhen wooing they were sa thrang.
if“And O!” quo he, “ann ze were as black, As evir the crown of your dadyes hat, ‘Tis I wad lay thee by my back, goAnd awa wi’ me thou sould gang!” “And O!” quoth she, “ann I were as white, As evir the snaw lay on the dike, I’d clothe me gayIld clead me braw, and lady-like, And awa with thee Ild gang.
Between the twa was made a plot; a littleThey raise a wee before the cock, And wyliely they shot the lock, open fieldAnd fast to the bent are they gane. Up the morn the auld wife raise, And at her leisure put on her claiths, Syne to the servants bed she gaes enquireTo speir for the silly poor man.
wentShe gaed to the bed, whair the beggar lay, The strae was cauld, he was away; Scho clapt her hands, cry’d “Dulefu’ day! For some of our geir will be gane.”goods Some ran to coffer, and some to kist,chest But nought was stown that could be mist.stolen She dancid her lane, cry’d, “Praise be blest!alone I have lodg’d a leal poor man.”loyal; true
Since naithing’s awa, as we can learn, The kirn’s to kirn, and milk to earn;churn Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,go to the outer apartment And bid her come quickly ben.”to the inner apartment The servant gaed where the dochter lay,— The sheets was cauld, she was away; And fast to her goodwife can say,did say “Shes aff with the gaberlunzieman.”
“O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,O haste; cause to ride And hast ze, find these traiters agen! For shee’s be burnt, and hee’s be slein, The wearifou gaberlunzieman!”troublesome Some rade upo’ horse, some ran a-fit;a-foot The wife was wood, and out o’ her wit;mad; furious She could na gang, nor yet could she sit, But ay did curse and did ban.
Mean-time far hind, out owre the lee,far hence; out over Fu’ snug in a glen, where nane could see The twa, with kindlie sport and glee, Cut frae a new cheese a whang.slice proving; tastingThe prieving was gude, it pleas’d them baith; To lo’e her for ay he gae her his aith. Quo she, “To leave thee I will be laith, My winsome gaberlunzieman.
“O kend my minny I were wi’ zou, Ill-fardly wad she crook her mou’. she’d never trustSic a poor man sheld nevir trow, Aftir the gaberlunzieman.” “My dear,” quo he, “zee’re zet owre zonge; And hae na learnt the beggar’s tonge, To follow me frae toun to toun, And carrie the gaberlunzie on.
chalk and ruddle (for marking sheep)“Wi kauk and keel, Ill win zour bread, And spindles and whorles for them wha need— Whilk is a gentil trade indeed, The gaberlunzie to carrie O! bendIll bow my leg and crook my knee, cloth; ragAnd draw a black clout owre my ee; A criple or blind they will cau me, While we sall sing and be merry O!”
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