Lady Grisel Baillie

[1665–1746]

Werena My Heart Licht I Wad Dee

[272. Lady Grisel Baillie]

There ance was a may, [1] and she lo’ed na men;

She biggit [2] her bonnie bow’r doun in yon glen;

But now she cries, Dool and well-a-day!

Come doun the green gait [3] and come here away!

When bonnie young Johnnie cam owre [4] the sea,

He said he saw naething sae lovely as me;

He hecht [5] me baith rings and mony braw things—

And werena my heart licht, I wad dee.

He had a wee titty [6] 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 [7] and lay doun to dee;

She maned [8] and she graned [9] 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 [10] I was bonnie, I wasna for Johnnie—

And werena my heart licht, I wad dee.

They said I had neither cow nor calf,

Nor dribbles o’ drink rins thro’ the draff, [11]

Nor pickles [12] o’ meal rins thro’ the mill-e’e—

And werena my heart licht, I wad dee.

His titty she was baith wylie and slee: [13]

She spied me as I cam owre the lea;

And then she ran in and made a loud din—

Believe your ain e’en, an ye trow not me.

His bonnet stood ay fu’ round on his brow,

His auld ane look’d ay as well as some’s new:

But now he lets ’t wear ony gait it will hing,

And casts himsel dowie [14] upon the corn bing. [15]

And now he gaes daund’ring about the dykes, [16]

And a’ he dow do is to hund the tykes: [17]

The live-lang nicht he ne’er steeks [18] his e’e—

And werena my heart licht, I wad dee.

Were I but young for thee, as I hae been,

We should hae been gallopin’ doun in yon green,

And linkin’ [19] it owre the lily-white lea—

And wow, gin I were but young for thee!

[1. Gold.]

[2. Silver.]

[3. Maid.]

[4. Built.]

[5. Path.]

[6. Over.]

[7. Promised.]

[8. Sister.]

[9. Sudden illness.]

[10. Moaned.]

[11. Groaned.]

[12. Suppose.]

[13. Malt.]

[14. Small quantities.]

[15. Sly.]

[16. Dejected.]

[17. Bin.]

[18. Stone walls.]

[19. Hunt the dogs.]