Five popular songs (1)/The Laird's Courtship

THE LAIRD’S COURTSHIP.

The Laird o‘ Cockpen he‘s proud an‘ he‘s
⁠great;
His mind is ta‘en up wi‘ matters o‘ state.
He wanted a wife his braw house to keep;
But favour wi‘ wooin‘ was fashious to seek.

Doun by the dyke-side a lady did dwell,
At his table-head he thought she‘d look well:
M‘Clish‘s ae dochter o‘ Claversha‘ Lee,
A penny less lass, wi‘ a lang pedigree.

His wig was well-pouther‘d, as guid as when
⁠new,
His waiscoat was white, his coat it was blue,
He put on a ring a sword and cock‘d hat;
And wha could refuse the Laird wi‘ a‘ that!

He took the grey mare and rade cannily;
An' rapp'd at the yett o' Ciaversha' Lee;
"Gae, tell mistress Jean to come speedily ben,
She's wanted to speak wi' the Laird o'Cockpen.

Mistress Jean was makin' the elder-flower
⁠wine—
An' what brings the Laird at sic a like time,'
She pat aff her apron, an' on her siik gown,
Her mutch wi' red ribbons, an' gaed awa'
⁠down.

An' when he came ben she boned fu' low;
An' what was his errand he soon let her know;
Amaz'd was the Laird, when the Lady said
⁠"—Na!"
An' wi' a laigh court'sy she turned awa'.

Dumfunder‘d he was—but nae sigh did he gi‘e
He mounted his mare, and rade cannily;

An' aften he thocht, as he gaed through the
⁠glen,
She's daft to refuse the Laird o' Cockpen.

Near to the house amang the lang trees,
There he did meet sweet Jeanie Greenlees;
She sits at his table like a white tappet hen—
Thus ended the courtships o' th' Laird o'

⁠Cockpen.