It is tradition that King James the Fifth of Scotland was in the habit of wandering about his dominions in disguise, and engaging in amours with country girls. One of these is thought to be described in the witty ballad of The Jolly Beggar, (Herd's Scotish Songs, ii. 164, Ritson's Scotish Songs, i. 168,) and another in The Gaberlunzie-Man, both of which are universally attributed (though without evidence) to James's pen. The character of James V., it has been remarked (Gent. Mag. Oct. 1794, p. 913,) resembled both in licentiousness and genius, that of the troubadour sovereign, William the Ninth, Count of Poitiers, who appears to have had the same vagrant habits.
With The Jolly Beggar may be compared Der Bettelmann, in Hoffmann's Schlesische Volkslieder, p. 45.
The pawky auld carle came o'er the lee,
Wi' many goode'ens and days to me,
Saying, "Goodwife, for your courtesie,
"Will you lodge a silly poor man?"
The night was cauld, the carle was wat, 5
And down ayont the ingle he sat;
My daughters shoulders he gan to clap,
And cadgily ranted and sang.
"O wow!" quo' he, "were I as free,
As first when I saw this country, 10
How blyth and merry wad I be,
And I wad never think lang."
He grew canty, and she grew fain,
But little did her auld minny ken,
What thir slee twa togither were say'ng, 15
When wooing they were sae thrang.
"And O!" quo' he, "ann ye were as black,
As e'er the crown of my dady's hat,
'Tis I wad lay thee by my back,
And awa' wi' me thou shou'd gang." 20
"And O!" quo' she, "ann I were as white,
As e'er the snaw lay on the dyke,
I'd clead me braw, and lady-like,
And awa with thee I'd gang."
Between the twa was made a plot; 25
They raise a wee before the cock,
And wilily they shot the lock,
And fast to the bent are they gane.
Up the morn the auld wife raise,
And at her leisure pat on her claise; 30
Syne to the servant's bed she gaes,
To speer for the silly poor man.
She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay,
The strae was cauld, he was away;
She clapt her hands, cry'd "Waladay! 35
For some of our gear will be gane."
Some ran to coffers, and some to kists,
But nought was stown that cou'd be mist:
She danc'd her lane, cry'd, "Praise be blest!
I have lodg'd a leal poor man. 40
"Since nathing's awa', as we can learn,
The kirn's to kirn, and milk to earn;
Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,
And bid her come quickly ben."
The servant gade where the daughter lay, 45
The sheets was cauld, she was away;
And fast to her goodwife can say,
"She's aff with the gaberlunzie-man."
"O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,
And haste ye, find these traytors again; 50
For she's be burnt, and he's be slain,
The wearifu' gaberlunzie-man."
Some rade upo' horse, some ran a-fit,
The wife was wood, and out o' her wit;
She cou'd na gang, nor yet cou'd she sit, 55
But ay she curs'd and she ban'd.
Mean time far hind out o'er the lee,
Fu' snug in a glen, where nane cou'd see,
The twa, with kindly sport and glee,
Cut frae a new cheese a whang. 60
The priving was good, it pleas'd them baith;
To lo'e her for aye he gae her his aith;
Quo' she, "To leave thee, I will be laith,
My winsome gaberlunzie-man.