| |
| HAD I the wyte, had I the wyte, | |
| Had I the wyte? she bade me; | |
| She watch’d me by the hie-gate side, | |
| And up the loan she shaw’d me. | |
| And when I wadna venture in, | 5 |
| A coward loon she ca’d me: | |
| Had Kirk an’ State been in the gate, | |
| I’d lighted when she bade me. | |
| |
| Sae craftilie she took me ben, | |
| And bade me mak nae clatter; | 10 |
| “For our ramgunshoch, glum gudeman | |
| Is o’er ayont the water.” | |
| Whae’er shall say I wanted grace, | |
| When I did kiss and dawte her, | |
| Let him be planted in my place, | 15 |
| Syne say, I was the fautor. | |
| |
| Could I for shame, could I for shame, | |
| Could I for shame refus’d her; | |
| And wadna manhood been to blame, | |
| Had I unkindly used her! | 20 |
| He claw’d her wi’ the ripplin-kame, | |
| And blae and bluidy bruis’d her; | |
| When sic a husband was frae hame, | |
| What wife but wad excus’d her! | |
| |
| I dighted aye her e’en sae blue, | 25 |
| An’ bann’d the cruel randy, | |
| And weel I wat, her willin’ mou | |
| Was sweet as sugar-candie. | |
| At gloamin-shot, it was I wot, | |
| I lighted on the Monday; | 30 |
| But I cam thro’ the Tyseday’s dew, | |
| To wanton Willie’s brandy. | |
| |
