'HE yellow-hair'd laddie fat down on yon brae, Cried, milk the ews, laffy, let nane o them gae: And ay she milked, and ay she fang,
• The yellow-hair'd laddie fhall be my goodman.' And ay she milked, and ay fhe fang,
The yellow-hair'd laddie fhall be my goodman.'
The weather is cauld, and my claithing is thin,
The ews are new clipt, and they winna bught in :
They winna bught in tho I should die :-
O yellow-hair'd laddie be kind unto me!
They winna bught in tho I fhould die :-
O yellow-hair'd laddie be kind unto me!
The goodwife cries butt the house, Jenny come ben,
The cheese is to mak, and the butter's to kirn.
Tho butter, and cheese, and a should four,
I'll crack and kifs wi my love ae haf hour:
It's ae haf hour, and we's een mak it three,
For the yellow-hair'd laddie my husband shall be.
XXIV. BESSY
'They big'd a bower on yon burn brae,
And theek'd it our wi rafhes.
Beffy Bell I lo'd yeftreen,
And thocht I neer could alter ;
But Mary Gray's twa pauky een
They gar my fancy falter.
Beffy's hair 's like a lint tap,
She fmiles like a May morning;
When Phebus starts fra Thetis lap
The hills with rays adorning :
White is her neck, faft is her hand,
Her wafte, and feet, fow genty.
With ilka grace fhe can command;
Her lips O wow! they're dainty.
Mary's locks are like the craw,'
Her eye like diamond glances,
She's ay fae clean, red-up, and braw,
She kills whene'er fhe dances.
Blyth as a kid, with wit at will,
She blooming, tight, and tall is ;
And guides her airs fa gracefu still;
O Jove, she's like thy Pallas!
For now fhe's mistress of my heart,
And wordy of my hand,
And weil I wat we shanna part
For filler or for land.
Let rakes delyte to swear and drink,
And beaus admire fine lace;
But my chief pleasure is to blink
On Betty's bonny face.
I wil awa, &c.
There blythly would I rant and fing
While o'er her sweets I range;
I'll cry Your humble fervant,.king!
Shame fa them that wad change
A kifs of Betty, and a smile,
Abeet ye wad lay down
The right ye hae to Britain's ifle,
And offer me your crown.
I will awa, &c.
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