The young laird o' the Lang Shaw Has drunk her health in wine ; The lassie was divine- Than ony priest should say : When Maggy gangs away? The wailing in our green glen That day will quaver high, The laverock from the sky; Will rise an' join the lay When Maggy gangs away! AULD JOHN BORTHICK. TUNE-The Toper's Delight. Auld John Borthick is gane to a weddin', Frae Edinburgh owr to the east neuk o' Fife ; His cheeks they war thin, an' his colour was fadin', But auld John Borthick was mad for a wife. His heart was as light as the lammie's in July, An' saft as the mushroom that grows on the lee; For bonny Miss Jeany had squeez'd it to ulzie Wi' ae wily blink o'her bonny blue e'e. He sat in a neuk in confusion an' anguish; His gravat was suddled, but that wasna a'; His head wasna beld, but his brow was turn'd langish; His teeth warna out, but they war turnin' sma'; He saw bonny Jeany afore him was landit; He saw bonny Jeany was favour'd by a'; By lairds an' by nobles respectfully handit ; An' wow but Miss Jeany was bonny an' braw ! “Alas!" quo' John Borthick, “they'll spoil the poor lassie, An' gar her believe that she carries the bell; I'll ne'er hae a wife sae upliftit an' saucy ; I cou’dna preserve her a month to mysel'. But yet she's sae handsome, sae modest, an' rosy, The man wha attains her is blest for his life; My heart is a' earning to lie in her bosy. Oh! dear!" quo' John Borthick, “gin I had a wife !" Lang Geordie was tipsy; he roar'd an' he rantit; He danc'd an' he sang, an' was brimfu'o' glee ; Of riches, of strength, an' of favour he yauntit: No man in the world sae mighty as he. But in cam his wife; he grew sober an’ sulky; She bade him gang hame as he valued his life ; Then cuff'd him, an'ca'd him an ass an'a monkey, “Ha! faith!" quo' John Borthick, “ I'll ne'er hae a wife." The bride an’ bridegroom to their bed they retir'd; Miss Jeany was there, an' John Borthick an'a': He look'd at Miss Jeany, his heart was inspired; Some said that the tears frae his haffits did fa'. He saw the bridegroom tak the bride in his bosom; He kiss'd her, caress'd her, an' ca'd her his life 3 John turn'd him about; for he couldna compose him ; “0, Lord!" quo' John Borthick, a wife !" gin I had The mornin' appear'd, an the cobble was ready; John Borthick was first at the end of the bay : But oh! to his sorrow he miss'd the sweet lady; A beau had her under his mantle away, In less than a fortnight John Borthick was mar. ried To ane wha might weel be the joy o' his life : But yet, wi' confusion an' jealousy worried, He curses the day that he married a wife. |