The Book of Scottish Song/The Man in Aberdeen

The Man in Aberdeen.

[From Herd's collection.]

There dwall'd a man in Aberdeen,
And nowthir young nor auld was he,
He never wanted wit at will,
But wi't was ugly as can be.

Mony a lass that had the tocher
Wham the carl socht to join
Wi' him to draw the pleuch of wedlock,
Did the hatefu' task decline.

Tir'd at last wi' sharp denyals,
Straight he pass'd to sillie Meg;
She had nowthir wit nor siller,
Here, thocht he, I sall nae beg.

Save the gowd o' her fair tresses,
Bit o' gowd ne'er had the quene,
Nor ither jewels in possession,
Than the jewels o' her een.

Bot alike to her was missing
All the gowd that crouns the mynde;
Sense, that jewel o' the bosom,
She could nowthir buy nor fynde.

He came, he saw, he overcame;
The sillie mayden blush'd consent,
Hamewart as he bent his travel,
Thus he thocht on his intent.

"Though this lassie want a noddle,
I ha'e wit to make amends;
Though I'am ugly, yet her bewtie
In our bairns will serve like ends.

"Our childer, I can never doubt it,
Will comely as their mither be;
And in wit and prudence surelie
Thay will copie after me.

"Sae our race will bear perfection
Baith in bodie and in saul;
Surelie a mair happy marriage
To man's lot docht never fall."

Sae the wicht fu' fondlie dremit.
Alack the issue was far ither!
The bairnis war ugly as thair daddie,
And thay were foolish as thair mither.

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