E. SONGS BY KNOWN AUTHORS

CVII

HALLOW FAIR

[ROBERT FERGUSSON]

TUNE: Ffy, let us a' to the brydal &c.

THERE'S fouth of braw Jockies and Jennys
Comes well busked into the fair,
With ribbons on their cockernonies
And fouth of1 fine flour in their hair.
Maggie 2 she was sae well busked,
That Willie was ty'd to his bride;
The pounie was ne'er better whisked
Wi' cudgell that hang frae his side.
Sing farell, &c.

plenty

dressed

coiled hair

pony

There was Geordy, that well lood1 his lassie,
He took the pint-stoup in his arms,

And hugg'd it and said: "Trouth, they're saucy,
That loos na a good father's bairn!”

Sing farell, &c.

colt

hireling

cattle

III

There was Wattie, the muirland ladie,
That rides on the bonny grey coutt,
With sword by his side like a cadie,

To drive in the sheep and the knoutt.
His doublet sae well 2 it did fit him,
It scarsely came doun to midd-thigh,

powdered With hair pouther'd, hatt and a feather,
And housing att courpon and tee.3
Sing farell, &c.

IV

bellowed But Bruckie play'd boo to Baussie, And aff scoured the coutt like the win': Poor Wattie he fell in the causie,

causeway

bones

bruised; And birs'd a' the bains in his skin, His pistolls fell out of the hulsters,

smirched

laughed

And were a' bedaubed wi' dirt,

5

The foks they came round him in clusters,
Some leugh and cry'd: "Lad was you hurt?”

Sing farrell, &c.

30

35

1 lov'd S, M 2 weel S, M 3 The horse-furniture at the crupper and the nose and head [Grosart].

to the S folks S

40

45

V

But coutt wad let naebody stir1 him,
He was ay sae wanton and skeech,
The packman's stands he o'erturn'd them,
And gard a' the Jocks stand abeech
Wi' sniring behind and before him,
For sick is the mettle of brutes;
Poor Wallie, and wae's me for him,
Was fain to gang hame in his boots.
Sing farrell, &c.

skittish

made; stand off snorting

VI

Now it was late in the ev'ning,
And boughting-time was drawing near,
The lasses had stench'd their greening
With fouth of braw aples and beer:

50 There was Lillie and Tibbie and Sibbie,
And Ceicy on the spinnell could spin,
Stood glowring at signs and glass-winnocks,
But deil a ane bade them gang' in.

Sing farell, &c.

folding. time satisfied; yearning

plenty

spindle

staring;

windows

56

VII

God guide's! saw you ever the like o' it?
See yonder's a bonny black swan,

It glowrs as't wad fain be at us,
What's yon that it hads in its hand?

1 steer S, M

holds

2 come S, M

stupid fool

heap

"Awa, daft gouk," crys Wattie,
"They're a' but a rickle of sticks.

See there is Bill, Jock and auld Hackie,
And younder's Mess John and auld Nick!”
Sing farell, &c.

60

present

slyly

village

VIII

Quoth Maggie: "Come buy us our fairing!"
And Wattie right sleely cou'd tell :

"I think thou're the flower of the claughing,
In trouth, now I'se gie you mysell!"
But wha wou'd hae thought it o' him,
That ere he had rippl'd the lint?

Sae proud was he o' his Maggie,

Tho' she did baith scalie and squint.2

Sing farell, &c.

65

70

1 e'er S 2 scalie and squint are synonymous, but are often used as one epithet.

12

16

CVIII

TWEEDSIDE1

[LORD YESTER]

WHEN Meiggy and me were acquaint

I carried my noddle fu' hie:

Nae lintwhite on a' the gay plain,
Nor goudspink sae bony as she!

I whistled, I piped and I sang,

I woo'd, but I came nae great speed,
Therefore I man wander abroad

And lay my banes over the Tweed.

3

To Meiggy my love I did tell,

Sa't tears did my passion express,
Alas! for I loo'd her o'er well,

And the women loo sic a man less.
Her heart it was frozen and ca'ld,

Her pride had my ruin decreed,
Therefore I will wander abroad

And lay my banes far frae the Tweed.

1 Original of Tweedside MS Meggy S Meggy S, Meigy MS cauld S.

head

linnet goldfinch

must

such