The Gaberlunzieman1024
The pauky1025 auld carle came ovir the lee,
Wi’ mony good-e’ens and days to mee,
Saying, “Goodwife, for zour courtesie,
Will ze lodge a silly1026 poor man?”
The night was cauld, the carle was wat,
And down azont1027 the ingle he sat;
My dochter’s shoulders he gan to clap,
And cadgily1028 ranted and sang.
“O wow!” quo he, “were I as free
As first when I saw this countrie,
How blyth and merry wad I bee!
And I wad nevir think lang1029.”
He grew canty1030 and she grew fain,
But little did her auld minny ken1031
What thir slee twa togither were sayn
When wooing they were sa thrang1032.
“And O!” quo he, “ann1033 ze were as black
As evir the crown o’ your dadye’s hat
’Tis I wad lay thee by my back,
And awa wi’ me thou sould gang1034!”
“And O!” quoth she, “ann I were as whyte
As evir the snaw lay on the dike
Ild clead me braw1035 and lady-like,
And awa wi’ thee Ild gang!”
Between the twa was made a plot,
They raise a wee1036 before the cock,
And wyliely they shot the lock,
And fast to the bent1037 are they gane.
Up the morn the auld wife raise,
And at her leisure put on her claiths,
Syne to the servants’ bed she gaes
To speir1038 for the silly poor man.
She gaed1039 to the bed whair the beggar lay;
The strae was cauld, he was away;
Scho clapt her hands, cry’d “Dulefu’ day!
For some of our geir1040 will be gane.”
Some ran to coffer and some to kist1041,
But nought was stown1042 that could be mist.
She danced her lane1043, cry’d “Praise be blest!
I have lodg’d a leal1044 poor man.”
“Since naithing’s awa, as we can learn,
The kirn’s to kirn1045 and milk to earn;
Gae butt1046 the house, lass, and waken my bairn,
And bid her come quickly ben1047.”
The servant gaed where the dochter lay—
The sheets was cauld, she was away;
And fast to her goodwife can say1048,
“She’s aff with the gaberlunzieman.”
“O fy gar ride1049, and fy gar rin,
And haste ze, find these traiters agen!
For shee’s be burnt, and hee’s be slein,
The wearifou1050 gaberlunzieman!”
Some rade upo’ horse, some ran a-fit1051;
The wife was wood1052, and out o’ her wit;
She could na gang, not yet could she sit
But ay did curse and did ban.
Mean-time far hind, out owre1053 the lee,
Fu’ snug in a glen where nane could see,
The twa, with kindlie sport and glee,
Cut frae a new cheese a whang1054.
The prieving1055 was gude, it pleas’d them baith;
To lo’e her for ay he gae her his aith.
Quo she, “To leave thee I will be laith,
My winsome gaberlunzieman.
“O kend my minny I were wi’ zou,
Ill-fardly1056 wald she crook her mou’.
Sic a poor man sheld nevir trow1057
Aftir the gaberlunzieman.”
“My dear,” quo he, “zee’re zet owre zonge,
And hae na learnt the beggar’s tonge,
To follow me frae toun to toun,
And carrie the gaberlunzie on:
“Wi’ kauk and keel1058 I’ll win zour bread,
And spindles and whorles1059 for them wha need—
Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,
The gaberlunzie to carrie O!
I’ll bow1060 my leg and crook my knee,
And draw a black clout1061 owre my e’e;
A criple or blind they will cau me,
While we sall sing and be merry O!”