The humorous and highly popular song entitled “The Laird o’ Cockpen,” was composed by Lady Nairne, in room of the older words connected with the air, “When she cam’ ben, she bobbit.” This is a song which every member of every Scotch audience has heard crooned or chirped in glee and waggery. It is matchless alike as respects scene and _dramatis personæ_, its fine suggestive touches, and its Scotch _wut_. The present Laird of Cockpen is the Earl of Dalhousie, an elder of the Free Church of Scotland, and grand-master of the Masonic Lodge of Scotland. We shall give this song also entire. The different style illustrates the genius of the authoress.
“The Laird o’ Cockpen he’s proud and he’s great, His mind is ta’en up with the things o’ the state; He wanted a wife his braw house to keep, But favour wi’ wooin’ was fashious to seek.
“Down by the dyke-side a lady did dwell, At his table-head he thought she’d look well; M’Clish’s ae daughter o’ Claverse-ha’ Lee, A penniless lass wi’ a lang pedigree.
“His wig was weel pouthered and as gude as new; His waistcoat was white, his coat it was blue; He put on a ring, a sword, and cocked hat; And wha could refuse the laird wi’ a’ that?
“He took the gray mare, and rade cannily, And rapped at the yett o’ Claverse-ha’ Lee: ‘Gae tell mistress Jean to come speedily ben, She’s wanted to speak to the Laird o’ Cockpen.’
“Mistress Jean was makin’ the elder-flower wine: ‘And what brings the laird at sic a like time?’ She put aff her apron, and on her silk gown, Her mutch wi’ red ribbons, and gaed awa down.
“And when she cam’ ben, he bowèd fu’ low, And what was his errand he soon let her know: Amazed was the laird when the lady said ‘Na,’ And wi’ a laigh curtsey she turnèd awa’.
“Dumbfoundered he was—nae sigh did he gie; He mounted his mare—he rade cannily; And aften he thought, as he gaed through the glen, She’s daft to refuse the Laird o’ Cockpen.
“And now that the laird his exit had made, Mistress Jean she reflected on what she had said: ‘Oh! for ane I’ll get better, its waur I’ll get ten! I was daft to refuse the Laird o’ Cockpen.’
“Next time the laird and the lady were seen, They were gauin’ arm-in-arm to the kirk on the green; Now she sits in the ha’ like a weel-tappit hen— But as yet there’s nae chickens appeared at Cockpen.”