DINNA KISS AFORE FOLK.

[An old Scotch song.]

Behave yoursel’ afore folk,

And dinna be sae rude to me

As kiss me sae afore folk.

It’s no through hatred o’ a kiss

That I sae plainly tell you this;

But ah! I tak’ it sae amiss

To be sae teased afore folk.

Behave yoursel’ afore folk;

When we’re alane, ye may tak’ ane,

But ne’er a ane afore folk.

Ye tell me that my face is fair;

It may be sae,—I dinna care,—

But ne’er again gar ’t blush sae sair

As ye hae dune afore folk.

Ye tell me that my lips are sweet:

Sic tales, I doubt, are a deceit;

At any rate, it’s hardly meet

To pree their sweets afore folk.

But, gin you really do insist

That I should suffer to be kissed,

Gae get a license frae the priest,

And mak’ me yours afore folk;

Behave yourself afore folk,

And when we’re ane, baith flesh and bane,

Ye may tak’ ten afore folk.