Had I the wyte she bade me

written in 1796

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 wad na venture in, A coward loon she ca'd me: Had Kirk and 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 Goodman '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 wad na Manhood been to blame, Had I unkindly us'd 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 een sae blue, An' bann'd the cruel randy, And weel I wat her willin mou Was sweet as succarcandie. At glomin-shote, it was, I wat, I lighted on the Monday; But I cam thro' the Tiseday's dew, To wanton Willie's brandy.