The Book of Scottish Song/Lass, gin ye wad lo'e

Lass, gin ye wad lo'e.

[From Chambers's Journal, No. 196, where it appears with the initials "A. L."]

"Lass, gin ye wad lo'e me,
Lass, gin ye wad lo'e me,
Ye'se be ladye o' my ha',
Lass, gin ye wad lo'e me.
A cantie but, a cozie ben,
Weel plenish'd, ye may trow me,
A brisk, a blythe, a kind gudeman—
Lass, gin ye wad lo'e me!"

"Walth there's little doubt ye ha'e,
An' bidin' bein an' easy;
But brisk an' blythe ye canna be,
An' you sae auld an' crazy.
Wad marriage mak' you young again?
Wad woman's luve renew you?—
Awa', ye silly doitet man,
I canna, winna lo'e you."

"Witless hizzie, e'ens ye like,
The ne'er a doit I'm carin';
But men maun be the first to speak,
An' wanters maun be speirin'.
Yet, lassie, I ha'e lo'ed you lang,
An' now I'm come to woo you—
I'm no sae auld as clashes gang,
I think you'd better lo'e me!"

"Doitet bodie!—auld or young,
You needna langer tarry,
Gin ane be loutin' owre a rung,
He's no for me to marry.
Gae hame an' ance bethink yoursel'
How ye wad come to woo me—
And mind me i' your latter-will,
Bodie, gin ye lo'e me!"

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