The niest an' town that they came till,45
He bought her wedding gown;
And made her lady o' ha's and bowers,
In bonny Berwick town.
THE GARDENER.
From Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 74. The last stanza but one is found in the preceding ballad. Another copy is given by Buchan, Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 187.
The gard'ner stands in his bouer door,
Wi' a primrose in his hand,
And bye there cam a leal maiden,
As jimp as a willow wand;
And bye there cam a leal maiden,
As jimp as a willow wand.
"O ladie can ye fancy me,5
For to be my bride;
Ye'se get a' the flowers in my garden,
To be to you a weed.
"The lily white sall be your smock;
It becomes your body best;10
Your head sall be buskt wi' gelly-flower,
Wi' the primrose in your breist.
"Your goun sall be the Sweet William;
Your coat the camovine;
Your apron o' the sallads neat,15
That taste baith sweet and fine.