XXVIII. The Northern Ditty: Or, The Scotchman outwitted by the Country Damfel. To a new Scotch Tune. Now I am got into the Reign of King James the First, I fhall chufe to infert the following Song, Jaid to be written much about his time on an amorous Intrigue of a certain Great Man. One would not chufe to infert bare Conjectures, without being able to fecond 'em with good Arguments, or at least very great Probabilities; my Reader will therefore excufe me, I hope, from relating the Particulars I have heard; and I fhall make no Obfervation on the Song, fave, that the Scottish Dialect pretty plainly intimates that it was written on fome Perfon of that Nation. Co Old and Raw the North did blow, All the Trees were hid with Snow, I met with a Farmer's Daughter, Good Faith my Mouth did water. Down Down I vail'd my Bonnet low, Her Visage far exceeding : I ask'd her where she was going so soon, She told me to the next Market-Town, In this Purse, fweet Soul, faid I, For Ife take all thy Barley: Twenty Pound more shall purchase Delight, If thou wilt lig with me all Night, And gang Home in the Morning early. If Forty Pound would buy the Globe, Or were my Friends as Poor as Fob, For fhould you prove one Night my Friend, And you'd be gone e'er nine Month's end, Then where should I find the Father? Pray what would my Parents fay, To give my Maidenhead away, I told her I had wedded been Fourteen Years, and longer, She She bid me then no farther come, But manag'd my Wedlock fairly, And keep my Purfe for poor Spouse at home, For fome other should buy her Barley. Then as swift as any Roe, She rode away and left me ; After her I could not go, Of Joy fhe quite bereft me : My Words knock'd all things out of joynt, Riding down a narrow Lane, Some two or three Hours after, There I chanc'd to meet again, This Farmer's bonny Daughter : Although it was both Raw and Cold, And fhew'd once more my Purse of Gold, Love, faid I, pray do not frown, I'll buy thee a filken Gown, With Ribbons, Gloves and Laces; I ne'er faw a fweeter Creature. Then I took her by the Hand, Why should'st thou thus difputing stand, She found my Mind was fully bent, Therefore she seemed to consent, But I wish I had never come nigh her. |