The Poetical Works of William Motherwell/Song ("He courted me in parlour…")
Song.
He courted me in parlour, and he courted me in ha',
He courted me by Bothwell banks, amang the flowers sae sma',
He courted me wi' pearlins, wi' ribbons, and wi' rings,
He courted me wi' laces, and wi' mony mair braw things;
But O he courted best o' a' wi' his black blythesome ee,
Whilk wi' a gleam o' witcherie cuist glaumour over me.
We hied thegither to the Fair—I rade ahint my joe,
I fand hisheart leap up and doun, while mine beat faint and low;
He turn'd his rosy cheek about, and then, ere I could trow,
The widdifu' o' wickedness took arles o' my mou!
Syne, when I feigned to be sair fleyed, sae pawkily as he
Bann'd the auld mare for missing fit, and thrawin him ajee.
And aye he waled the leanings lang, till we drew near the town,
When I could hear the kimmers say—'There rides a comelie loun!'
I turned wi' pride and keeked at him, but no as to be seen,
And thought how do wie I wad feel, gin he made love to Jean!
But soon the manly chiel, aff-hand, thus frankly said to me,
'Meg, either tak me to yoursel, or set me fairly free!'
To Glasgow Green I link'd wi' him, to see the ferlies there,
He birled his penny wi' the best—what noble could do mair?
But ere ae fit he'd tak me hame, he cries—'Meg, tell me noo:
Gin ye will hae me, there's my lufe, I'll aye be leal an' true.'
On sic an honest, loving heart how could I draw a bar?
What could I do but tak Bab's hand, for better or for waur?