G
Motherwell’s Note-Book, p. 17, p. 10; from Mrs Rule, Paisley, August 16, 1825. Apparently learned from a blind aunt, pp. 1, 3.
1
The weather it is clear, and the wind blaws fair,
And yonder a boy rins bonnie,
And he is awa to the gates of Hye,
With a letter to my dear ladie.
2
The first line that she lookit on,
She was baith red and rosy;
She droppit down, and she dropt in a swoon,
Crys, Och and alace for Geordie!
3
‘Gar saddle to me the black, black horse;
The brown is twice as bonnie;
But I will neither eat nor drink
Till I relieve my Geordie.’
4
When she cam to the canny Cannygate,
Amang the puir folk many,
She made the dollars flee amang them a’,
And she bade them plead for Geordie.
5
When she came to the tolbooth-gate,
Amang the nobles many,
She made the red gold flee amang them a’,
And she bade them plead for Geordie.
6
Out and spoke the king himsell,
‘Wha’s aught this weary lady?’
Out and spoke a pretty little page,
‘She’s the Earl o Cassilis lady.’
7
‘Has he killed? or has he slain?
Or has he ravishd any?’
‘He stole three geldings out o yon park,
And sold them to Balleny.’
8
‘Pleading is idle,’ said the king,
‘Pleading is idle with any;
But pay you down five hundred pund,
And tak you hame your Geordie.’
9
Some gave marks, and som gave crowns,
Some gave dollars many;
She’s paid down the five hundred pund,
And she’s relieved her Geordie.
10
The lady smiled in Geordie’s face:
‘Geordie, I have bocht thee;
But down in yon green there had been bluidy breeks
Or I had parted wi thee.’