Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 100; from three
copies, two in Banffshire, and one in Aberdeenshire.
| 1 |
'Twas in the pleasant month of June,
When woods and valleys a' grow green,
And valiant ladies walk alane,
While Phoebus shines soe clearly.
And valiant ladies, etc. |
| 2 |
Out-ower yon den I spied a swain,
Wi a shepherd's club into his han;
He was driving ewes out-ower yon knowes,
And said, Lassie, I could love you.
He was driving ewes, etc. |
| 3 |
'Oh, I could love you manifold,
As Jacob lovd Rachel of old,
As Jesse lovd the fields of gold,
So dearly could I love you. |
| 4 |
'In ha's and chambers ye'se be laid,
In silks and cambrics ye'se be clade,
An wi the finest ye'se be fed,
My dear, gin ye would believe me.' |
| 5 |
'Your ha's and chambers ye'll soon sweep clean,
Wi your flattering tongue now let me alane;
You are designd to do me wrang,
Awa, young man, and leave me. |
| 6 |
'But tell me now what is your trade,
When you've given over sheep and club?'
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . |
| 7 |
'By making besoms I win by bread,
And spindles and whorles in time o need;
Isn't that a gentle trade indeed?
Bonnie lassie, can you loe me? |
| 8 |
'Will ye cast aff your mantle black
And put on you a clouty cloak,
And follow me close at the back,
The gaberlunyie-laddie?' |
| 9 |
n she coost aff her mantle black,
And she put on a clouty cloak,
And she followd him close at the back,
Her gaberlunyie-laddie. |
| 10 |
As they gaed through youn borough-town,
For shame the lassie lookit down,
But they bought a loaf and they both sat down,
And the lassie ate wi her laddie. |
| 11 |
When they came to his father's gate,
Sae loudly as he rappd thereat;
'My dear,' said she, 'ye'll be found in faut
For rapping there sae loudly.' |
| 12 |
Then four-and-twenty gentlemen
Convoyd the gentle beggar ben,
And aye as mony gay ladies
Convoyd the bonny lassie. |
| 13 |
n they were come into the ha,
Wi laughter a' were like to fa:
'I wish, dear brother, we had begg d a',
For sic a bonnie lassie.' |
| 14 |
Then as he stood amang them a',
He let his meal-pocks a' down fa,
And in red gowd he shone oer them a',
And she was a young knight's lady. |
| 15 |
Yestreen she was the begger's bride,
As his wife she now stood by his side,
And for a' the lassie's ill misguide,
She's now the young knight's lady. |
