Captain Ward and the Rain-Bow (1780)/The Gawkie

The GAWKIE.

BLYTH you (illegible text)B ſs to Jean did ſay,
Will ye go to yon funny brae,
Where flocks do feed and herds do ſtray,
And ſport a while with Jamie?

Ah na, laſs, l'll no gang there,
Nor about Jamie tak nae care,
Nor about Jamie tak nae care,
For be's ta'en up with Maggy.
For hark and I will tell you laſs,
Did I not ſee young Jamie paſs,
Wi' meikle blythneſ in his face,
Out o'er the moor to Maggy.
I wat he gave her mony a kiſs,
And Maggy took it ne'er amiſs,
Tween ilka ſmack pleas'd her wi' this,
That Beſs was but a gawkie.
For when e'er a ſingle kiſs I ſeek,
She returns her head and thraws her cheek,
And for an hour ſhe'll ſcarcely ſpeak,
Who'd not call her a gawkie?
But ſure my Maggy has more ſenſe,
She'll get a ſcore without offence,
Now gie me ane into the menſe,
And ye ſhall be my dawtie.
O Jamie ye hae mony ta’en
But I will ne'er ſtand up for ane,
Or twa, till we do meet again,
Sae ne'er think me a gawkie.
Ah na laſs, that cannot be,
Sick thought as theſe are far frae me,
Or ony thy ſweet face that ſee,
E'er to think thee a gawkie.
But whilſt nae mair of this we'll ſpeak,
For yonder Jamie does us meet,
Inſtead of Meg he kiſs'd ſo ſweet,
I trew he likes the gawkie.
O dear Beſs I hardly knew,
When I came by your gown ſae new,
I think you've got it wet with dew,
Quoth Beſs that's like a gawkie.
It's wet with dew and will get rain,
An' i'll get gowns when this is gane,
Sae ye may gang the gate ye came,
And tell it to your dawtie.
The guilt appear’d in Jamies cheek,
He cry'd O cruel maid, but ſweet,
If I ſhould gang another gate,
I ne'er could meet my dawtie.
The laſſes frae him they all flew,
And left poor Jamie fair to rue,
That ever Maggy's face he knew,
Or yet ca'd Beſs a gawkie.
As they went o'er they ſang,
The hills and dales with echo rang,
Gang o'er the muir to Maggy.

 

FINIS.