From “Queen Mary”
SHAME upon you, Robin,
Shame upon you now!
Kiss me would you? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Daisies grow again,
Kingcups blow again,
And you came and kissed me milking the cow.
Robin came behind me,
Kissed me well I vow;
Cuff him could I? with my hands...
Adapted
GIN a body meet a body
Comin’ through the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?
Every lassie has her laddie,—
Ne’er a ane hae I;
Yet a’ the lads they smile at me
When comin’ through the rye.
Amang the train there is a swain
I dearly lo’e mysel’;
But whaur his hame,...
O Whistle, and I ’ll come to you, my lad,
O whistle, and I ’ll come to you, my lad,
Tho’ father and mither and a’ should gae mad,
O whistle, and I ’ll come to you, my lad.
But warily tent, when ye come to court me,
And come na unless the back-yett be a-jee;
Syne up the back stile, and let naebody see,
And come as ye were na comin’ to me...
Now gentle sleep hath closèd up those eyes
Which, waking, kept my boldest thoughts in awe;
And free access unto that sweet lip lies,
From whence I long the rosy breath to draw.
Methinks no wrong it were, if I should steal
From those two melting rubies one poor kiss;
None sees the theft that would the theft reveal,
Nor rob I her of aught...
I.
she hung the cage at the window,
“If he goes by,” she said,
“He will hear my robin singing,
And when he lifts his head,
I shall be sitting here to sew,
And he will bow to me, I know.”
The robin sang a love-sweet song,
The young man raised his head;
The maiden turned away and blushed:
“I ’m a fool!” she...
“i Saw him kiss your cheek!”—“’T is true.”
“O Modesty!”—“’T was strictly kept:
He thought me asleep; at least, I knew
He thought I thought he thought I slept.”
“you have heard,” said a youth to his sweetheart, who stood,
While he sat on a corn-sheaf, at daylight’s decline,—
“You have heard of the Danish boy’s whistle of wood?
I wish that that Danish boy’s whistle were mine.”
“And what would you do with it?—tell me,” she said,
While an arch smile played over her beautiful face.
“I would blow it,”...
BEHAVE yoursel’ before folk,
Behave yoursel’ before folk,
And dinna be sae rude to me,
As kiss me sae before folk.
It wouldna give me meikle pain,
Gin we were seen and heard by nane,
To tak’ a kiss, or grant you ane;
But gudesake! no before folk.
Behave yoursel’ before folk,
Behave yoursel’ before...
Though, when other maids stand by,
I may deign thee no reply,
Turn not then away, and sigh,—
Smile, and never heed me!
If our love, indeed, be such
As must thrill at every touch,
Why should others learn as much?—
Smile, and never heed me!
Even if, with maiden pride,
I should bid thee quit my side,
Take...
Lancashire Dialect
THE DULE ’S i’ this bonnet o’ mine:
My ribbins ’ll never be reet;
Here, Mally, aw ’m like to be fine,
For Jamie ’ll be comin’ to-neet;
He met me i’ th’ lone t’ other day
(Aw war gooin’ for wayter to th’ well),
An’ he begged that aw ’d wed him i’ May,
Bi th’ mass, if he ’ll let me, aw will!
When...
