"O had ye a stranger here last night,
Who drank till the day was dawing?
Come, show us the chamber where he lyes in,
We'll shortly clear his lawing."
"I had nae stranger here last night, 65
That drank till the day was dawing;
But ane that took a pint, and paid it ere he went,
And there's naething to clear o' his lawing."
A lad amang the rest, being o' a merry mood,
To the young knight fell a-talking; 70
The wife took her foot, and gae him a kick,
Says, "Be busy, ye jilt, at your baking."
They stabbed the house, baith but and ben,
The curtains they spared nae riving,
And for a' that they did search and ca', 75
For a kiss o' the knight they were striving.
[THE DUKE OF ATHOL'S NOURICE.]
Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 127.
As I cam in by Athol's yetts,
I heard a fair maid singing;
"I am the Duke o' Athol's nourice,
And I wat it weel does set me;
And I wad gie a' my half-year's fee, 5
For ae sicht o' my Johnie."
"Keep weel, keep weel, your half-year's fee,
For ye'll soon get a sicht o' your Johnie;
But anither woman has my heart,
And I am sorry for to leave ye." 10
"Ye'll dow ye doun to yon change-house,
And drink till the day be dawing;
At ilka pint's end ye'll drink the lass' health,
That's coming to pay the lawing."