Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/520

 LADY GRISEL BAILLIE

1665-1746

430. Werena my Hearts licht I wad dee

There ance was a may, and she lo'ed na men; She biggit her bonnie bow'r doun in yon glen; But now she cries, Dool and a well-a-day! Come doun the green gait and come here away!

When bonnie young Johnnie cam owre the sea, He said he saw naething sae lovely as me; He hecht me baith rings and mony braw things— And werena my heart's licht, I wad dee.

He had a wee titty that lo'ed na me, Because I was twice as bonnie as she; She raised sic a pother 'twixt him and his mother That werena my heart's licht, I wad dee.

The day it was set, and the bridal to be: The wife took a dwam and lay doun to dee; She maned and she graned out o' dolour and pain, Till he vow'd he never wad see me again.

His kin was for ane of a higher degree, Said—What had he do wi' the likes of me? Appose I was bonnie, I wasna for Johnnie— And werena my heart's licht, I wad dee.

They said I had neither cow nor calf, Nor dribbles o' drink rins thro' the draff, Nor pickles o' meal rins thro' the mill-e'e— And werena my heart's licht, I wad dee.

may] maid. biggit] built. gait] way, path. hecht] promised. titty] sister. dwam] sudden illness. appose] suppose. pickles] small quantities.