The young
DAMOSELS COMPLAIN[T]
For being slighted by a Youngman in a Palmers Weed.
To the Tune of the, Gaberluingie Man.
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1.
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THe Carle came hirpling ov'r a tree
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With many fair fleetching good dayes & good deens to me,
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Saying good wife, for your Courtesy
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Will you lodge a silly poor man?
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2.
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The night was rainy and he was all wett,
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And down before the fire he satt,
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He flung his Meal-pock off his back
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And he began and sang.
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3.
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And O (quoth he) gif I were as free,
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As first, when I came to this Countrey;
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Then blyth and merry would I be,
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And I would never think lang, O!
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4.
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O then (quoth she) gif I were as white,
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As ever the snow lay on the dike!
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Then would I dress me Lady-like,
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And with thee, I would gang.
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5.
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Then (quoth he) gif thou wert as black,
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As ever the Croun of thy Fathers hatt,
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Gif thou would lye down by my back,
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And with me thou should gang.
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6.
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These two together made a plott,
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To rise a little before the Cock;
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And so cunningly they shutt the lock,
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And to the fields they'r gon.
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7.
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Be times in the morning the good wife she rose,
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And laisily put on here Cloaths;
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And to the Servant Lass she goes:
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Where lyes this poor old Man.
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8.
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She did gang, where the poor man lay;
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And the Strae was cold and he was away,
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She clapped here hands, and cry'd wallawae:
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For some of her gear his gone.
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9.
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Some ran to Coffers, and some to Chests,
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But there was nothing there, which she had mist:
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She clapped her hands and cry'd thanks be blest,
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Wee mett with a leill poor man.
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I0.
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But who can ease me of my pain
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To bring these Traytors back again:
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For he's be burnt, and she's be slayn,
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That woefull Gaberlungie man.
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11.
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Some rade on Horses, and some on foot,
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The wife was so sorry, she ran out of her wit,
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But she was twice as far out of the gate
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Even with that Gaberluingie man.
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12.
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Her Reply.
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Mother she sayes, I do you exhort,
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If any such Beggars come athort,
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Give them a little of your support,
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And let them not stay too long O!
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13.
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For if they stay but over a night
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Sure all things then will not rule right:
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For I have gotten such ane a slight,
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Even with this Gaberlungie man.
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14.
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Yet will I sell both Rock and Reel,
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And so will I my Spinning-wheel,
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And I will buy ane Staff of Steel,
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And with him I will gang, O!
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15.
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His Reply.
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Fair maid, (he sayes) thou art too young,
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Thou hast not learnt the Beggers tongu[e]
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To follow me from Town to Town,
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And bear my Gaberluingie, O!
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16.
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Her Reply.
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I will cruick my leg and bow my knee
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And draw a black cloute over mine eye,
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And some time, creeple, they will call m[e]
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And with thee I will gang, O!
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17.
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If my Mother wist, that I were with you
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So ill-fav'rdly. she wad cruick, her mo[w]
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And another poor man she wad never trow
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For such a Gaberluingie, O!
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18.
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His Reply.
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Fair maid, if thou gang, thou shalt no[?]
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And I's lay thee every night by my side
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And I's dresse thee as ever was any Bride:
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For I's dresse thee as I can, O!
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19.
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Her Reply.
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With Calk and Keel I shall win my bread,
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And with Spinnels and Thorles, gif ye sta[d]
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And that's a Genty Trade Indeed
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And I'le bear thy Gaberluingie man.
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