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 gudemanIs 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’ mouWas 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.