had i the wyte? she bade me

  had i the wyte, had i the wyte,

  had i the wyte? she bade me;

  she watch'd me by the hie-gate side,

  and up the loan she shaw'd me.

  and when i wadna venture in,

  a coward loon she ca'd me:

  had kirk an' state been in the gate,

  i'd lighted when she bade me.

  sae craftilie she took me ben,

  and bade me mak nae clatter;

  “for our ramgunshoch, glum gudeman

  is o'er ayont the water.”

  whae'er shall say i wanted grace,

  when i did kiss and dawte her,

  let him be planted in my place,

  syne say, i was the fautor.

  could i for shame, could i for shame,

  could i for shame refus'd her;

  and wadna manhood been to blame,

  had i unkindly used her!

  he claw'd her wi' the ripplin-kame,

  and blae and bluidy bruis'd her;

  when sic a husband was frae hame,

  what wife but wad excus'd her!

  i dighted aye her e'en sae blue,

  an' bann'd the cruel randy,

  and weel i wat, her willin' mou

  was sweet as sugar-candie.

  at gloamin-shot, it was i wot,

  i lighted on the monday;

  but i cam thro' the tyseday's dew,

  to wanton willie's brandy.