Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 306.
| 1 |
Bauld Rankin was as gude a mason
as eer biggit wi stane;
He has biggit a bonny castle,
but siller he gat nane.
* * * * * |
| 2 |
'Gae bar the gates,' the lady said,
'gae bar them out and in;
Leave not a door open,
lest Rankin should come in.' |
| 3 |
They've bard them on the outer side,
sae hae they on the in;
But left the cellar-door open,
and Bauld Rankin crap in. |
| 4 |
'Where's a' the women o the house?'
says Bauld Rankin:
'They're at the well washing,'
says the fause nurse to him. |
| 5 |
'Where's a' the men of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'They are at the barn thrashing,'
says the fause nurse to him. |
| 6 |
'Where's the lady of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'She's in the chamber, sleeping,'
says the fause nurse to him. |
| 7 |
'How will we get her wakent?
how will we get her down?'
'We'll pierce the baby's heart's blood,'
says the fause nurse to him.
* * * * * |
| 8 |
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come please it wi the keys:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
tho I'll down on my knees.' |
| 9 |
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the knife:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
should I lay down my life.' |
| 10 |
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the bell:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come down yoursel.' |
| 11 |
'How can I come down, how can I come,
sae late in the night,
And neither coal nor candle,
for to shew me light?' |
| 12 |
The first step she steppit,
she steppit on a stane;
The next step she steppit,
she met the Bauld Rankin. |
| 13 |
'O spare my life, Rankin,
O spare it most dear!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as birds in the air. |
| 14 |
'O spare my life, Rankin,
O save it most sweet!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as there's stanes in the street.'
* * * * * |
| 15 |
'I wish my wife and bairns
may be all well at hame;
For the buttons on my waistcoat
they winna bide on. |
| 16 |
'I wish my wife and family
may be all well at home;
For the rings upon my fingers
they winna bide on.'
* * * * * |
| 17 |
He has kindled a big bane-fire,
in the middle o the closs,
And he has burned Bauld Rankin,
likewise the fause nurse. |
