Ye auld blind dotard bodie, My mither sent to me. A milk cow! quo' he,—aye, a milk cow, quo' she. Far hae I ridden, And meikle hae I seen, But a saddle on a milk-cow Our gudeman came hame at e'en, And he spied a pair of jack-boots What's this I see? How came thae boots here Without the leave o' me? Ye auld blind dotard carle, And waur may ye see, It's but a pair o' water stoups My minnie sent to me. Milking-pails? quo' he,—aye, milking-pails! quo' she. Far hae I ridden, And muckle hae I seen, But siller spurs on milking-pails Saw I never nane. Our gudeman came hame at e'en, And there he saw a siller sword Where nae sword should be: What's this now, gudewife, O how came this sword here Without the leave o' me? A sword! quo' she,-aye, a sword! quo' he. And blinder may ye see, My mither sent to me. A spurtle! quo' he,-aye, a spurtle! quo' she. Far hae I ridden, love, And meikle hae I seen, But silver hilted spurtles Saw I never nane. Our gudeman came hame at e'en, And there he spied a powdered wig Where nae wig should be: What's this now, gudewife, What's this I see? How came this wig here Without the leave o' me? A wig! quo' she,-aye, a wig! quo' he. And waur may ye see, 'Tis naething but a clocking-hen My mither sent to me. A clocking-hen! quo' he,-aye, a clocking-hen! quo' she. Far hae I ridden, And meikle hae I seen, But powder on a clocking-hen Saw I never nane. Our gudeman came hame at e'en, And there he saw a meikle coat Where nae coat should be: O how came this coat here A coat! quo' she,―aye, a coat! quo' he. My mither sent to me. Blankets! quo' he,-aye, blankets! quo' she. Far hae I ridden, And meikle hae I seen; But buttons upon blankets Saw I never nane. Ben gaed our gudeman, And there he spied a sturdy man Where nae man should be. How came this man here? How can this be? How came this man here Without the leave o' me? A man! quo' she,-aye, a man! quo' he. And blinder may ye be; It's but a new milkin maid My mither sent to me. A maid! quo' he,-aye, a maid! quo' she Far hae I ridden, love, [From Herd's Collection, 1776.] HOW CAN I BE BLITHE. How can I be blithe and glad, I dare but wish for thee, my love, O that I was, and I wish I was, DUMBARTON'S DRUMS. Dumbarton's drums beat bonnie-o, When my soldier is by, While he kisses and blesses his Annie-o! "Tis a soldier alone can delight me-o, For his graceful looks do invite me-o: While guarded in his arms, I'll fear no war's alarms, Neither danger nor death shall e'er fright me-o. My love is a handsome laddie-o, Though commissions are dear, Yet I'll buy him one this year; For he shall serve no longer a cadie-o. A soldier has honour and bravery-o, Unacquainted with rogues and their knavery-o; He minds no other thing But the ladies or his king; For every other care is but slavery-o. Then I'll be the captain's lady-o; But I'll follow with the drum. |