"I had nae stranger here last night, 65 That drank till the day was dawing; But ane that took a pint, and paid it ere he went, And there's naething to clear o' his lawing."
A lad amang the rest, being o' a merry mood, To the young knight fell a-talking; 70 The wife took her foot, and gae him a kick, Says, "Be busy, ye jilt, at your baking."
They stabbed the house, baith but and ben, The curtains they spared nae riving, And for a' that they did search and ca', 75 For a kiss o' the knight they were striving.
Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 127.
As I cam in by Athol's yetts, I heard a fair maid singing; "I am the Duke o' Athol's nourice, And I wat it weel does set me; And I wad gie a' my half-year's fee, 5 For ae sicht o' my Johnie."
"Keep weel, keep weel, your half-year's fee, For ye'll soon get a sicht o' your Johnie; But anither woman has my heart, And I am sorry for to leave ye." 10
"Ye'll dow ye doun to yon change-house, And drink till the day be dawing; At ilka pint's end ye'll drink the lass' health, That's coming to pay the lawing."
He hied him doun to yon change-house, 15 And he drank till the day was dawing; And at ilka pint's end he drank the lass' health, That was coming to pay for his lawing.
Aye he ranted, and aye he sang, And drank till the day was dawing; 20 And aye he drank the bonnie lass' health, That was coming to pay the lawing.
He spared na the sack, though it was dear, The wine, nor the sugar-candy; * * * * * *
*He has dune him to the shot-window, 25 To see gin she war coming; There he saw the duke and a' his merry men, That oure the hill cam rinning.
He has dune him to the landlady, To see gin she wad protect him; 30 She buskit him up into woman's claise, And set him till a baking.
Sae loudlie as they rappit at the yett, Sae loudlie as they war calling; "Had ye a young man here yestreen, 35 That drank till the day was dawing?"
"He drank but ae pint, and he paid it or he went, And ye've na mair to do wi' the lawing." They searchit the house a' round and round, And they spared na the curtains to tear them; 40
While the landlady stood upo' the stair-head, Crying, "Maid, be busy at your baking;" They gaed as they cam, and left a' undone, And left the bonnie maid at her baking.