Page:Bess the gawkie (1).pdf/2



BLYTHE young Bess to Jean did say,

Will ye gang to yon sunny brae,

Where flocks do feed, and herds do stray,

And sport a while wi' Jamie?

Ah, na, I'll no gang there,

Not about Jamie tak a care,

Nor about Jamie tak a care,

For he's taen up wi' Maggie.

For hark, and I will tell you, lass,

Did I not hear young Jamie pass,

Wi' muckle blytheness in his face,

Out owre the muir to Maggie:

I wa' he gae her mony a kiss,

And Maggie took them nae amiss;

'Tween ilka smack pleased her wi' this,

"That Bess was but a gawkie."

"For when a civil kiss I seek,

"She turns her head & thraws her cheek,

"And for an hour she'll hardly speak:

Wha'd no ca' her a gawkie?

"Be sure my Maggie has mair sense,

"She'll give a score with an offence;

"Now gie me ane into the mense,

"and ye shall be my dawtie."