AN EXCELLENT BALLAD,
INTITULED
The Gaberlunzie-Man.
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(1)
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THE silly poor Man came o'er the Lee,
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With many Good-day and Good-even to thee,
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Seeking Help for Courtesie,
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O lodge a silly poor Man, etc.
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(2)
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The Night was cald he was all wet,
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And down beyond the Fire he sate,
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He took the Meal-Pocks off his Back,
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And he began to sing, etc.
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(3)
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I wish says she I were as white,
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As ever the Snow lay on the Dyke,
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It's I wou'd dress me Lady like,
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And with thee wou'd I gang, etc.
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(4)
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O quoth he, and ye were as black,
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As e're the Crown of my Father's Hat,
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You shou'd ly down at my Back,
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And away with you I'd gang, etc.
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[5]
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And there the two made up the Plot,
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And rose a little before the Cock,
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So cunningly she shut the Lock,
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And to the Fields they're gane, etc.
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[6]
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Now Staff and Steel to wone thy Bread,
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And Spindle and Whorle to spin a Threed,
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Says she it is a gentle Trade indeed,
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And away with thee I'll gang, etc.
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[7]
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So in the Morning the Good-wife rose,
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And slowly puts she on her Clothes,
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And to the Servant Lass she goes,
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Where lyes the silly poor Man, etc.
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[8]
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She went to the Place where the poor Man lay,
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The Sheets was cold, he was away,
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And ay she says a dooleful Day,
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For I fear he's done me harm.
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(9)
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Some ran to Coffers some ran to Chist,
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All was there, Nothing was mist;
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And ay she cry'd, Now Thanks be blest,
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For he has done no Harm. etc.
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(10)
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She went to the Bed where her Daughter lay,
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The Sheets were cold she was away;
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And ay she cry'd, A doolful Day!
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For she's follow'd the Gaberlouzy Man. et[c.]
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(11)
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Some rode upon Horse, some ran upon Foot,
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The poor Old Wife ran out of her Wit,
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And ay she cries, A doolful Fit!
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She's follow'd the Graberlounzie Man, et[c.]
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[12]
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When Nine Months were come and gone,
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The Begger he came back again,
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Seeking Help, for himself alone,
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As he was a silly poor Man. etc.
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[13]
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Say she, I love no Begger alone;
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For I had no Daughters, but only one,
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And away with a Begger she has gone,
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And I wist when nor where.
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[14]
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I set him down beyond the Fire,
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I gave him all at his Desire,
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And now I may take up my Hire,
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For what I got by him.
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[15]
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O Good-wife, what would you give,
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For a Sight of your Daughter alive?
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O false Lown, I fear it's thee
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I wish I had thee slain.
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[16]
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No Good-wife, it may not be,
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She's better than I got her from thee,
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She has a Kinshine on her Knee.
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And a Babe into her Wime.
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[17]
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As she came riding up the Sand,
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And Four and Twenty at her Hand,
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She was the fairest in the Land;
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And she'll go with the Gaberlounzie Man.
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