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| THE LAIRD o’ Cockpen, he’s proud an’ he’s great, | |
| His mind is ta’en up wi’ things o’ the State; | |
| He wanted a wife, his braw house to keep, | |
| But favour wi’ wooin’ was fashious to seek. | |
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| Down by the dyke-side a lady did dwell, | 5 |
| At his table head he thought she’d look well, | |
| M’Clish’s ae daughter o’ Clavers-ha’ Lee, | |
| A penniless lass wi’ a lang pedigree. | |
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| His wig was weel pouther’d and as gude as new, | |
| His waistcoat was white, his coat it was blue; | 10 |
| He put on a ring, a sword, and cock’d hat, | |
| And wha could refuse the laird wi’ a’ that? | |
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| He took the grey mare, and rade cannily, | |
| An’ rapp’d at the yett o’ Clavers-ha’ Lee; | |
| “Gae tell Mistress Jean to come speedily ben,— | 15 |
| She’s wanted to speak to the Laird o’ Cockpen.” | |
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| Mistress Jean was makin’ the elder-flower wine; | |
| “An’ what brings the laird at sic a like time?” | |
| She put aff her apron, and on her silk gown, | |
| Her mutch wi’ red ribbons, and gaed awa’ down. | 20 |
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| An’ when she cam’ ben he bow’d fu’ low, | |
| An’ what was his errand he soon let her know; | |
| Amazed was the laird when the lady said “Na,” | |
| And wi’ a laigh curtsie she turned awa’. | |
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| Dumfounder’d was he, nae sigh did he gie, | 25 |
| He mounted his mare—he rade cannily; | |
| An’ aften he thought, as he gaed through the glen, | |
| She’s daft to refuse the laird o’ Cockpen.” | |
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(Stanzas added by Miss Ferrier.)
And now that the laird his exit had made, | |
| Mistress Jean she reflected on what she had said; | 30 |
| “Oh, for ane I’ll get better, its waur I’ll get ten, | |
| I was daft to refuse the Laird o’ Cockpen.” | |
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| Next time that the laird and the lady were seen, | |
| They were gaun arm-in-arm to the kirk on the green; | |
| Now she sits in the ha’ like a weel-tappit hen, | 35 |
| But as yet there’s nae chickens appear’d at Cockpen. | |
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