Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/918

 WILLIAM BELL SCOTT

And I hae been to yon town

To try my luck in yon town; Nort, and Mysie, Elspie too. Right braw we were to pass the gate, Wi* gowden clasps on girdles blue.

Mysic smiled wi* miminy mouth,

Innocent mouth, miminy mouth, Elspie wore a scarlet gown, Nort's grey eyes were unco' gleg. My Castile comb, was like a crown.

We walk'd abreast all up the street,

Into the market up the street, Our hair with marigoldb was wound, Our bodices with love-knots laced, Our merchandise with tansy bound.

Nort had chickens, I had cocks,

Gamesome cocks, loud-crowing cocksy Mysie ducks, and Elspie drakes, For a wee groat or a pound, We lost nae time wi' gives and takes.

Lost nae time, for well we knew,

In our sleeves full well we knew, When the gloaming came that night, Duck nor drake, nor hen nor cock Would be found by candle-light.

And when our chaffering all was done, All was paid for, sold and done,

miminy] prim, demure. gleg] bright, sharp.

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