B
Leyden’s Glossary to The Complaynt of Scotland, p. 371.
1
O Cam ye in by the House o Rodes,
Or cam ye there away?
Or have [ye] seen Johne Tamson?
They say his wife has run away.
* * * * * *
2
‘O what wad ye do, Johne Tamson,
Gin ye had me as I hae thee?’
‘I wad tak ye to the gude green-wood,
And gar your ain hand weil the tree.’
* * * * * *
3
Johne Tamson peeped and poorly spake
Untill he did his ain men see;
‘O by my sooth,’ quo Johne Tamson,
‘Methinks I see a coming tree.’
* * * * * *
4
And they hae hanged that grim Soudan,
For a’ his mirth and meikle pride,
And sae hae they that ill woman,
Upon a scrogg-bush him beside.
151. two months in all the copies; cf. 81.
194. lye.
Motherwell’s MS. has a few variations, but these may be attributed to Motherwell. All excepting one, which is an error of the pen, appear in the Minstrelsy.
54. in your.
144. has.
152. part on.
163. into the.
194. lay.
203. Then.
(204. Minstrelsy, When.)
204. gate.
212. sit to.
223. I’ll.
251. have, error of the pen.
254. wale.
262. ladie for wife, to avoid couplets.
283. foes.