Harris Manuscript, fol. 26 b, No 25, from Miss Harris.
| 1 |
Robin he's gane to the wast,
Hollin, green hollin
He's waled a wife amang the warst.
Bend your bows, Robin |
| 2 |
She could neither bake nor brew,
For spoilin o her bonnie hue. |
| 3 |
She could nether spin nor caird,
But fill the cup, an sair the laird. |
| 4 |
She could nether wash nor wring,
For spoilin o her gay goud ring. |
| 5 |
Robin's sworn by the rude
That he wald mak an ill wife gude. |
| 6 |
Robin he's gaun to the fauld,
An taen his blaik [wither] by the spauld. |
| 7 |
He's taen aff his wither's skin
An he has preened his ain wife in. |
| 8 |
'I daurna beat my wife, for a' her kin,
But I may beat my wither's skin.' |
| 9 |
'I can baith bake an brew;
What care I for my bonnie hue? |
| 10 |
'I can baith wash an wring;
What care I for my gay gowd ring? |
| 11 |
'I can baith spin an caird;
Lat onybodie sair the laird.' |
| 12 |
Robin's sworn by the rude
That he has made an ill wife gude. |
