Five Carlins
(Robert Burns)
There was five carlins in the South,
They fell upon a scheme,
To send a lad to London town,
To bring them tidings hame.
Not only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there;
And aiblins gowd and honor baith
Might be that laddie`s share.
There was Maggie by the banks o Nith,
A dame wi pride eneugh;
And Marjorie o` the Monie Lochs,
A carlin auld and teugh.
And Blinkin Bess of Annandale,
That dwelt near Solway-side;
And Brandy Jean, that took her gill,
In Galloway sae wide.
And Black Joan, frae Crichton-Peel,
0` gipsy kith an kin:
Five wighter carlins were na found
The South countrie within.
To send a lad to London town,
They met upon a day;
And monie a knight, and monie a laird,
This errand fain wad gae.
0, monie a knight, and monie a laird,
This errand ain wad gae;
But nae ane could their fancy please,
0, ne`er a ane but tway!
The first ane was a belted Knight,
Bred of a Border band;
And he wad gae to London Town,
Might nae man him withstand.
And he wad do their errands weel,
And meikle he wad say;
And ilka ane at London court
Wad bid to him Guid-day.
The neist cam in a Soger youth
And spak wi` modest grace;
And he wad gang to London Town,
If sae their pleasure was
He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meikle speech pretend;
But he wad hecht an honest heart
Wad ne`er desert his friend.-
Now wham to chuse, and wham refuse,
At strife thir Carlins fell;
For some had Gentle Folk to please,
And some wad please themsel.-
Then up spak mim-mou`d Meg o`Nith,
And she spak up wi`pride,
And she wad send the Sodger-lad
Whatever might betide.-
For the Auld Gudeman o`London Court,
She didna care a pin;
But she wad send the Sodger-lad,
To greet his eldest son.-
Then started Bess of Annandale,
A deadly aith she`s taen,
That she wad vote the Border-knight,
Tho` she should vote her lane.-
`For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,
`And fools o` change are fain;
`But I hae try`d this Border-knight,
`I`ll try him yet again.
Says black Jan frae Crighton-peel,
A Carlin stoor and grim;
The Auld Gudeman, or the Young Gudeman,
For me may sink or swim.
For fools will prate o` Right and Wrang,
While knaves laugh them to scorn;
But the Solder`s friends hae blawn the best,
So he shall bear the horn.
Then Brandy Jean spak o`er her drink,
Ye weel ken, kimmers a`,
The Auld Gudeman o`. London Court,
His back`s been at the wa`:
And mony a friend that kiss`d his caup,
Is now a fremit wight;
But it`s ne`er be sae wi` Brandy Jean,
We`ll send the Border-knight.`
Then slaw rase Marjory o` the lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow;
Her ancient weed was russet-grey,
Her auld Scots heart was true.-
There`s some Great Folk set light by me,
I set as light by them;
But I will send to London town
Whom I lo`e best at hame.`-
So how this weighty plea may end,
Nae mortal wight can tell:
God grant the king, and ilka man,
May look weel to themsel.-
tune: Chevy Chase (269)
filename[ FIVECRLN
play.exe FIVECRLN
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