Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 357,
from the recitation of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan.
| 1 |
'If you do love me weel, Willie,
Ye'll shew to me truelie;
Ye'll build to me a bonnie ship,
And set her on the sea.' |
| 2 |
He did love her very weel,
He shewed to her trulie;
He builded her a bonnie ship,
And set her on the sea. |
| 3 |
They had not sailed one league, one league,
One league but only three,
Till sharp, sharp showers fair Janet took,
She grew sick and like to die. |
| 4 |
'If you do love me weel, Willie,
Ye'll shew to me trulye;
Ye'll tak me to my mother's bower,
Whare I was wont to be.' |
| 5 |
He did love her very weel,
He shewed to her trulye;
He took her to her mother's bower,
Whare she was wont to be. |
| 6 |
'It's ye'll stand up at my richt side,
You will on tiptaes stand,
Until you hear your auld son weep,
But an you Janet mourn. |
| 7 |
'Come take your auld son in your arms,
He is both large and lang;
Come take your auld son in your arms,
And for a nourice gang.' |
| 8 |
He is to his mother's bowers,
An hour or it struck nine:
'I have a babe into my arms,
He'll die nor nouricing.' |
| 9 |
'Goe home, go home, my son,' she says,
'And mak thy Jenny blythe;
If ae nurse winna sere her son,
It's I'll provide him five.' |
| 10 |
Fair Janet was nae weel lichter,
Nor weel doun on her side,
Till ben and cam her father dear,
Saying, Wha will busk our bride? |
| 11 |
Ben and cam her brethren dear,
Saying, Wha will busk our bride?
And wha will saddle our bride's horse?
Whom ahint will she ride? |
| 12 |
'Hold your tongue, my brethren dear,
And let your folly be,
For I'm sae fair and full of hair
Sma busking will serve me. |
| 13 |
'Hold your tongue, my brethren dear,
And let your folly be,
For I will ride behint William,
He will best wait on me. |
| 14 |
'Willie, lay the saddle saft,
And lead the bridle soun,
And when we come to Mary's Kirk,
Ye'll set me hooly down.' |
| 15 |
Supper scarslie was owre,
Nor musick weel fa'n to,
Till ben and cam the bride's brethren,
Saying, Bride, ye'll dance wi me:
'Awa, awa, my brethren dear,
For dancing's no for me.' |
| 16 |
Ben and came her ain bridegroom,
Saying, Bride, ye'll dance wi me;
She says, Awa, awa, ye southland dog,
Your face I downa see. |
| 17 |
Ben and cam then Sweet Willie,
Saying, Bride, ye'll dance wi me:
'Oh I will dance the floor once owre,
Tho my heart should break in three.' |
| 18 |
'Oh no, oh no,' said Sweet William,
'Let no such things eer be;
But I will cut my glove in two,
And I'll dance for thee and me.' |
| 19 |
She hadna danced the floor once owre,
I'm sure she hadna thrice,
Till she fell in a deadly swound,
And from it neer did rise. |
| 20 |
Out and spak her ain bridegroom,
And an angry man was he:
'This day she has gien me the gecks,
Yet she must bear the scorn;
There's not a bell in merry Linkum
Shall ring for her the morn.' |
| 21 |
Out and spoke then Sweet William,
And a sorry man was he:
'Altho she has gien you the gecks,
She will not bear the scorn;
There's not a bell in merry Linkum
But shall ring for her the morn.' |
| 22 |
There was not a bell in merry Linkum
But they tinkled and they rang,
And a' the birds that flew above,
They changed their notes and sang. |
