Skene Manuscript, p. 47; taken down from recitation in the
north of Scotland, 1802-3.
| 1 |
'Willie's fair, and Willie's rare,
An he is wondrous bonnie,
An Willie has promist to marry me,
Gin ever he marry ony.' |
| 2 |
'Ye's get Jammie, or ye's [get] Johnnie,
Or ye's get bonny Peter;
Ye's get the wale o a' my sons,
But leave me Willie the writer.' |
| 3 |
'I winna hae Jamie, I winna hae Johnie,
I winna hae bonny Peter;
I winna hae ony o a' your sons,
An I get na Willie the writer.' |
| 4 |
. . . .
. . . .
There was threescore and ten brisk young men
Was boun to briddal-stool wi him: |
| 5 |
'Ride on, ride on, my merry men a',
I forgot something behind me;
I forgat my mither's blessing,
To hae to bride-stool wi me.' |
| 6 |
'God's blessin an mine gae wi ye,Willie,
God's blessing an mine gae wi ye;
For ye're nae ane hour but bare nineteen,
Fan ye're gauin to meet your Meggie.' |
| 7 |
They rode on, and farther on,
Till they came to the water o Gamrie,
An they a' wan safe through,
Unless it was sweet Willie. |
| 8 |
The first ae step that Willie's horse steppit,
He steppit to the bridle;
The next ae step that Willie's horse steppit,
Toom grew Willie's saddle. |
| 9 |
They rod on, an farther on,
Till they came to the kirk of Gamrie.
. . . .
. . . . |
| 10 |
Out spak the bonny bride,
. . . .
'Whar is the man that's to gie me his han
This day at the kirk of Gamrie?' |
| 11 |
Out spak his brother John,
An O bat he was sorrie!
'It fears me much, my bonny bride,
He sleeps oure soun in Gamerie.' |
| 12 |
The ribbons that were on her hair —
An they were thick and monny —
She rive them a', let them down fa,
An is on [to] the water o Gamerie. |
| 13 |
She sought it up, she sought it down,
She sought it braid and narrow;
An in the deepest pot o Gamerie,
There she got sweet Willie. |
| 14 |
She has kissd his comely mouth,
As she had done before [O]:
'Baith our mithers sall be alike sorry,
For we's baith sleep in Gamery.' |
