The Gaberlunzieman

The pauky auld carle came ovir the lee,
Wi’ mony good-e’ens and days to mee,
Saying, “Goodwife, for zour courtesie,
Will ze lodge a silly poor man?”
The night was cauld, the carle was wat,
And down azont the ingle he sat;
My dochter’s shoulders he gan to clap,
And cadgily ranted and sang.

“O wow!” quo he, “were I as free
As first when I saw this countrie,
How blyth and merry wad I bee!
And I wad nevir think lang.”
He grew canty and she grew fain,
But little did her auld minny ken
What thir slee twa togither were sayn
When wooing they were sa thrang.

“And O!” quo he, “ann ze were as black
As evir the crown o’ your dadye’s hat
’Tis I wad lay thee by my back,
And awa wi’ me thou sould gang!”
“And O!” quoth she, “ann I were as whyte
As evir the snaw lay on the dike
Ild clead me braw and lady-like,
And awa wi’ thee Ild gang!”

Between the twa was made a plot,
They raise a wee before the cock,
And wyliely they shot the lock,
And fast to the bent are they gane.
Up the morn the auld wife raise,
And at her leisure put on her claiths,
Syne to the servants’ bed she gaes
To speir for the silly poor man.

She gaed to the bed whair the beggar lay;
The strae was cauld, he was away;
Scho clapt her hands, cry’d “Dulefu’ day!
For some of our geir will be gane.”
Some ran to coffer and some to kist,
But nought was stown that could be mist.
She danced her lane, cry’d “Praise be blest!
I have lodg’d a leal poor man.”

“Since naithing’s awa, as we can learn,
The kirn’s to kirn and milk to earn;
Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,
And bid her come quickly ben.”
The servant gaed where the dochter lay--
The sheets was cauld, she was away;
And fast to her goodwife can say,
“She’s aff with the gaberlunzieman.”

“O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,
And haste ze, find these traiters agen!
For shee’s be burnt, and hee’s be slein,
The wearifou gaberlunzieman!”
Some rade upo’ horse, some ran a-fit;
The wife was wood, and out o’ her wit;
She could na gang, not yet could she sit
But ay did curse and did ban.

Mean-time far hind, out owre the lee,
Fu’ snug in a glen where nane could see,
The twa, with kindlie sport and glee,
Cut frae a new cheese a whang.
The prieving was gude, it pleas’d them baith;
To lo’e her for ay he gae her his aith.
Quo she, “To leave thee I will be laith,
My winsome gaberlunzieman.

“O kend my minny I were wi’ zou,
Ill-fardly wald she crook her mou’.
Sic a poor man sheld nevir trow
Aftir the gaberlunzieman.”
“My dear,” quo he, “zee’re zet owre zonge,
And hae na learnt the beggar’s tonge,
To follow me frae toun to toun,
And carrie the gaberlunzie on:

“Wi’ kauk and keel I’ll win zour bread,
And spindles and whorles for them wha need--
Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,
The gaberlunzie to carrie O!
I’ll bow my leg and crook my knee,
And draw a black clout owre my e’e;
A criple or blind they will cau me,
While we sall sing and be merry O!”