| |
| THE BRIDE cam’ out o’ the byre, | |
| And O, as she dighted 1 her cheeks, | |
| ‘Sirs, I’m to be married the-night, | |
| And ha’e neither blankets nor sheets– | |
| Ha’e neither blankets nor sheets, | 5 |
| Nor scarce a coverlet too; | |
| The bride that has a’ thing to borrow, | |
| Has e’en right meikle 2 ado!’ | |
| |
| Wooed and married and a’! | |
| Married and wooed and a’! | 10 |
| And was she na very weel aff | |
| That was wooed and married and a’? | |
| |
| Out spake the bride’s father | |
| As he cam’ in frae the pleugh, | |
| ‘O haud your tongue, my dochter, | 15 |
| And ye’se 3 get gear 4 eneugh. | |
| The stirk 5 stands i’ the tether, | |
| And our braw bawsint yade 6 | |
| Will carry hame your corn:— | |
| What wad ye be at, ye jade?’ | 20 |
| |
| Out spake the bride’s mither: | |
| ‘What, deil, needs a’ this pride? | |
| I hadna a plack 7 in my pouch | |
| That night I was a bride. | |
| My gown was linsey-wolsey, | 25 |
| And ne’er a sark 8 ava; | |
| And ye ha’e ribbons and buskin’s 9 | |
| Mae 10 than ane or twa.’ | |
| |
| Out spake the bride’s brither | |
| As he cam’ in wi’ the kye: 11 | 30 |
| ‘Puir Willie wad ne’er ha’e ta’en ye | |
| Had he kent ye as weel as I. | |
| For ye’re baith proud and saucy, | |
| And no for a puir man’s wife; | |
| Gin 12 I canna get a better | 35 |
| I’se ne’er tak’ ane i’ my life!’ | |
| |
| Out spake the bride’s sister | |
| As she cam’ in frae the byre; | |
| ‘Oh, gin I were but married, | |
| It’s a’ that I desire! | 40 |
| But we puir folk maun live, | |
| And do the best we can; | |
| I dinna ken what I should want | |
| If I could get but a man!’ | |
