159. The Gardener

THE GARDENER stands in his bower-door,

With a primrose in his hand,

And by there came a leal maiden

As jimp as a willow wand.

‘O lady, can you fancy me,

For to be my bride?

Ye’se get a’ the flowers in my garden

To be to you a weed.

III

‘The lily white sall be your smock

Becomes your body best;

Your head sall be busk’d wi’ gillyflower

And the primrose in your breast.

‘Your gown sall be the sweet-william,

Your coat the camovine,

Your apron a’ the salluds neat

That taste baith sweet and fine.

‘Your stockings sall be o’ the braid kail-blade,

That is baith braid and lang;

And narrow, narrow at the cute,

And braid, braid at the brawn.

‘Your gloves sall be the marigold,

All glittering to your hand,

Well spread o’er wi’ the blue blaewort

That grows amang corn-land.’—

VII

‘O fare ye well, young man,’ she says,

‘Farewell, and I bid adieu;

If you can fancy me,’ she says,

‘O I cannot fancy you.

VIII

‘Sin ye’ve provided a weed for me

Amang the summer flowers,

Then I’se provide anither for you

Amang the winter showers.—

‘The new-fa’n snaw to be your smock

Becomes your body best;

An’ your head sall be wound wi’ the eastern wind,

An’ the cauld rain on your breast.’

leal] true.jimp] slender.weed] clothing.camovine] camomile.cute] ankle.brawn] calf.blaewort] corn bluebottle.