| |
| THERE was five Carlins in the South, | |
| They fell upon a scheme, | |
| To send a lad to London town, | |
| To bring them tidings hame. | |
| |
| Nor only bring them tidings hame, | 5 |
| But do their errands there, | |
| And aiblins gowd and honor baith | |
| Might be that laddie’s share. | |
| |
| There was Maggy by the banks o’ Nith, | |
| A dame wi’ pride eneugh; | 10 |
| And Marjory o’ the mony Lochs, | |
| A Carlin auld and teugh. | |
| |
| And blinkin Bess of Annandale, | |
| That dwelt near Solway-side; | |
| And whisky Jean, that took her gill, | 15 |
| In Galloway sae wide. | |
| |
| And auld black Joan frae Crichton Peel, 1 | |
| O’ gipsy kith an’ kin; | |
| Five wighter Carlins were na found | |
| The South countrie within. | 20 |
| |
| To send a lad to London town, | |
| They met upon a day; | |
| And mony a knight, and mony a laird, | |
| This errand fain wad gae. | |
| |
| O mony a knight, and mony a laird, | 25 |
| This errand fain wad gae; | |
| But nae ane could their fancy please, | |
| O ne’er a ane but twae. | |
| |
| The first ane was a belted Knight, | |
| Bred of a Border band; 2 | 30 |
| And he wad gae to London town, | |
| Might nae man him withstand. | |
| |
| And he wad do their errands weel, | |
| And meikle he wad say; | |
| And ilka ane about the court | 35 |
| Wad bid to him gude-day. | |
| |
| The neist cam in a Soger youth, 3 | |
| Who spak wi’ modest grace, | |
| And he wad gae to London town, | |
| If sae their pleasure was. | 40 |
| |
| He wad na hecht them courtly gifts, | |
| Nor meikle speech pretend; | |
| But he wad hecht an honest heart, | |
| Wad ne’er desert his friend. | |
| |
| Now, wham to chuse, and wham refuse, | 45 |
| At strife thir Carlins fell; | |
| For some had Gentlefolks to please, | |
| And some wad please themsel’. | |
| |
| Then out spak mim-mou’d Meg o’ Nith, | |
| And she spak up wi’ pride, | 50 |
| And she wad send the Soger youth, | |
| Whatever might betide. | |
| |
| For the auld Gudeman o’ London court 4 | |
| She didna care a pin; | |
| But she wad send the Soger youth, | 55 |
| To greet his eldest son. 5 | |
| |
| Then up sprang Bess o’ Annandale, | |
| And a deadly aith she’s ta’en, | |
| That she wad vote the Border Knight, | |
| Though she should vote her lane. | 60 |
| |
| “For far-off fowls hae feathers fair, | |
| And fools o’ change are fain; | |
| But I hae tried the Border Knight, | |
| And I’ll try him yet again.” | |
| |
| Says black Joan frae Crichton Peel, | 65 |
| A Carlin stoor and grim. | |
| “The auld Gudeman or young Gudeman, | |
| For me may sink or swim; | |
| |
| For fools will prate o’ right or wrang, | |
| While knaves laugh them to scorn; | 70 |
| But the Soger’s friends hae blawn the best, | |
| So he shall bear the horn.” | |
| |
| Then whisky Jean spak owre her drink, | |
| “Ye weel ken, kimmers a’, | |
| The auld gudeman o’ London court, | 75 |
| His back’s been at the wa’; | |
| |
| “And mony a friend that kiss’d his caup | |
| Is now a fremit wight; | |
| But it’s ne’er be said o’ whisky Jean— | |
| We’ll send the Border Knight.” | 80 |
| |
| Then slow raise Marjory o’ the Lochs, | |
| And wrinkled was her brow, | |
| Her ancient weed was russet gray, | |
| Her auld Scots bluid was true; | |
| |
| “There’s some great folk set light by me, | 85 |
| I set as light by them; | |
| But I will send to London town | |
| Wham I like best at hame.” | |
| |
| Sae how this mighty plea may end, | |
| Nae mortal wight can tell; | 90 |
| God grant the King and ilka man | |
| May look weel to himsel. | |
