The Gaberlunyie Man

The pauky auld carle came our the lee Wi mony good eens and days to mee, Saying, Gudewife, for your courtesie, Will ye ludge a silly poor man? The night was cauld, the carle was wat, And down ayont the ingle he sat; My dochter's shouthers he 'gan to clap, And cadgily ranted and sang.

O wow! quo he, war I as free As first when I saw this country, How blythe and mirrie wad I be! And I wad never think lang. He grew canty, and scho grew fain, But little did her auld minny ken What thir slee twa togidder war sayen Whan wooing they war sar thrang.

And O, quo he, an yee war as black As evir the croun o your daddy's hat, Tis I wad lay ye be my bak, And awa wi thee I'd gang. And O, quo she, an I war as whyte As er the snaw lay on the dyke, I'd cleid me braw, and lady like, And awa wi thee I'd gang.

Between the twa was made a plot: They raise a wee before the cock, And wylily they shot the look, And fast to the bent ar they gane. Upon the morn the auld wyfe raise, And at her leisure pat on her claise; Syne to the servant's bed scho gaes To speir for the silly poor man.

Scho gaed to the bed whar the beggar lay, The strae was cauld he was away; Scho clapt her hands, cry'd, dulefu day! For some o our gier will be gane. Sume ran to coffer, and sume to kist, But nocht was stown that coud be mist; She dancid her lane, cry'd, Praise be blest! I have ludg'd a leil poor man.

Since nathing's awa as we can learn, The kirn's to kirn, and milk to yearn, Gae but the house, lass, and waken my bairn, And bid her come quickly ben. The servant gaed quhar the dochter lay, (The sheits war cauld, scho was away) And fast to her gudewife gan say, Scho's aff wi the Gaberlunyie man.

O fy gar ride, and fy gar ryn, And haste ye find these traiters agen, For scho's be burnt, and he's be slean, The weirifou Gaberlunyie man. Some rade upo horse, some ran afit; The wife was wude, and out o her wit, Scho coud na gang, nor yet coud scho sit, But ay scho curst and scho bann'd.

Meantime, far hind out owr the lee, Fu snug in a glen, whar nane coud see, Thir twa, in kindly sport and glee, Cut frae a new cheese a whang. The prieving was gude it pleas'd them baith; To lue her for ay he gae her his aith: Quo scho to leave thee I will be laith, My winsum Gaberlunyie man.

O kend my minny I war wi you, I'll fardly wad scho crook her mou; Sik a poor man she'd nevir trow, After the Gaberlunyie mon. My dear, quo he, ye're yet our young, And hae nae learnt the beggars tongue, To fallow me frae toun to toun, And carry the Gaberlunyie on.

Wi kauk and keil I'll win your bread, And spinnels and quhorles for them wha need; Whilk is a gentle trade indeed The Gaberlunyie to carrie. I'll bow my leg, and crook my knee, And draw a black clout our my eye,; A cripple or blind they will ca me, While we sall sing and be merrie.