Ballad Book Part 27

O she has served the lang tables, Wi' the white bread and the wine; But ay she drank the wan water, To keep her colour fine.

And as she gaed by the first table, She leugh amang them a'; But ere she reach'd the second table, She loot the tears doun fa'.

She's ta'en a napkin lang and white, And hung it on a pin; And it was a' to dry her e'en, As she ga'ed out and in.

When bells were rung, and ma.s.s was sung, And a' men boun to bed, The bride but and the bonny bridegroom, In ae chamber were laid.

She's ta'en her harp intill her hand, To harp this twa asleep; And ay as she harped and as she sang, Full sairly did she weep.

"O seven full fair sons hae I born, To the gude lord o' this place; And O that they were seven young hares, And them to rin a race, And I mysel a gude greyhound, And I wad gie them chase!

"O seven full fair sons hae I born To the gude lord o' this ha'; And O that they were seven rattons To rin frae wa' to wa', And I mysel a gude grey cat, And I wad worry them a'!"

"My goun is on," said the new-come bride, "My shoon are on my feet; And I will to fair Annie's chamber, And see what gars her greet.

"O wha was't was your father, Annie, And wha was't was your mither?

And had ye ony sister, Annie, Or had ye ony brither?"

"The Earl o' Richmond was my father, His lady was my mither, And a' the bairns beside mysel, Was a sister and a brither."

"O weel befa' your sang, Annie, I wat ye hae sung in time; Gin the Earl o' Richmond was your father, I wat sae was he mine.

"O keep your lord, my sister dear, Ye never were wranged by me; I had but ae kiss o' his merry mouth, As we cam' owre the sea.

There were five s.h.i.+ps o' gude red gold Cam' owre the seas wi' me, It's twa o' them will tak' me home, And three I'll leave wi' thee."

THE LAIRD O' DRUM.

The Laird o' Drum is a-hunting gane, All in a morning early, And he has spied a weel-faur'd May, A-shearing at her barley.

"My bonny May, my weel-faur'd May, O will ye fancy me, O?

Wilt gae and be the Leddy o' Drum, And let your shearing a-be, O?"

"It's I winna fancy you, kind sir, Nor let my shearing a-be, O; For I'm ower low to be Leddy Drum, And your light love I'll never be, O."

"Gin ye'll cast aff that goun o' gray, Put on the silk for me, O, I'll mak' a vow, and keep it true, A light love you'll never be, O."

"My father lie is a shepherd mean, Keeps sheep on yonder hill, O, And ye may gae and speer at him, For I am at his will, O."

Drum is to her father gane, Keeping his sheep on yon hill, O: "I am come to marry your ae daughter, If ye'll gie me your good-will, O."

"My dochter can naether read nor write, She ne'er was brocht up at scheel, O; But weel can she milk baith cow and ewe, And mak' a kebbuck weel, O.

"She'll shake your barn, and win your corn, And gang to kiln and mill, O; She'll saddle your steed in time o' need, And draw aff your boots hersell, O."

"I'll learn your la.s.sie to read and write, And I'll put her to the scheel, O; She shall neither need to saddle my steed, Nor draw aff my boots hersell, O.

"But wha will bake my bridal bread, Or brew my bridal ale, O; And wha will welcome my bonnie bride Is mair than I can tell, O."

Four-and-twenty gentlemen Gaed in at the yetts of Drum, O: But no a man has lifted his hat, When the Leddy o' Drum cam' in, O.

"Peggy Coutts is a very bonny bride, And Drum is big and gawsy; But he might hae chosen a higher match Than ony shepherd's la.s.sie!"

Then up bespak his brither John, Says, "Ye've done us meikle wrang, O; Ye've married ane far below our degree, A mock to a' our kin, O."

"Now haud your tongue, my brither John; What needs it thee offend, O?

I've married a wife to work and win, And ye've married ane to spend, O.

"The first time that I married a wife, She was far abune my degree, O; She wadna hae walked thro' the yetts o' Drum, But the pearlin' abune her bree, O, And I durstna gang in the room where she was, But my hat below my knee, O!"

He has ta'en her by the milk-white hand, And led her in himsell, O; And in through ha's and in through bowers,-- "And ye're welcome, Leddy Drum, O."

When they had eaten and well drunken, And a' men boun for bed, O, The Laird of Drum and his Leddy fair, In ae bed they were laid, O.

"Gin ye had been o' high renown, As ye're o' low degree, O, We might hae baith gane doun the street Amang gude companie, O."

"I tauld ye weel ere we were wed, Ye were far abune my degree, O; But now I'm married, in your bed laid, And just as gude as ye, O.

"For an I were dead, and ye were dead, And baith in ae grave had lain, O; Ere seven years were come and gane, They'd no ken your dust frae mine, O."

LIZIE LINDSAY.

"Will ye gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay, Will ye gae to the Hielands wi' me?

Will ye gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay, And dine on fresh curds and green whey?"

Then out it spak' Lizie's mither, An' a gude auld leddy was she: "Gin ye say sic a word to my daughter, I'll gar ye be hangit hie!"

"Keep weel your daughter for me, madam; Keep weel your daughter for me.

I care as leetle for your daughter As ye can care for me!"

Then out spak' Lizie's ain maiden, An' a bonnie young la.s.sie was she; "Now gin I were heir to a kingdom, Awa' wi' young Donald I'd be."

"O say ye sae to me, Nelly?

And does my Nelly say sae?

Maun I leave my father and mither, Awa' wi' young Donald to gae?"

And Lizie's ta'en till her her stockings, And Lizie's taen till her her shoon, And kilted up her green claithing, And awa' wi' young Donald she's gane.

The road it was lang and was weary; The braes they were ill for to climb; Bonnie Lizie was weary wi' travelling, A fit further couldna she win.

"O are we near hame yet, dear Donald?

O are we near hame yet, I pray?"