Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
had i the wyte? she bade me
had i the wyte, had i the wyte,
had i the wyte? she bade me;
she watch'd me by the hie-gate side,
and up the loan she shaw'd me.
and when i wadna venture in,
a coward loon she ca'd me:
had kirk an' state been in the gate,
i'd lighted when she bade me.
sae craftilie she took me ben,
and bade me mak nae clatter;
“for our ramgunshoch, glum gudeman
is o'er ayont the water.”
whae'er shall say i wanted grace,
when i did kiss and dawte her,
let him be planted in my place,
syne say, i was the fautor.
could i for shame, could i for shame,
could i for shame refus'd her;
and wadna manhood been to blame,
had i unkindly used her!
he claw'd her wi' the ripplin-kame,
and blae and bluidy bruis'd her;
when sic a husband was frae hame,
what wife but wad excus'd her!
i dighted aye her e'en sae blue,
an' bann'd the cruel randy,
and weel i wat, her willin' mou
was sweet as sugar-candie.
at gloamin-shot, it was i wot,
i lighted on the monday;
but i cam thro' the tyseday's dew,
to wanton willie's brandy.