THE BEGGAR LADDIE
Traditional
It was in the pleasant month of June
When gentle ladies walk their
lane,
When woods and valleys a' grow
green
And the sun it shines sae
clearly.
Doon in yon grove I spied a swain,
He'd a shepherd's sheep-club in
his hand,
He was drivin' yowes oot ower
the knowes,
And he was a weel-faured laddie.
"Come tell to me whit is your trade,
Or by whit airt you win your
breid,
Or by whit airt you win your
bried
When herdin' ye give over ?"
"Makin' spindles is my trade,
And findin' sticks in time o'
need,
For I'm a beggar to my trade;
Noo, lassie could ye love me ?"
"I could love ye as many fold
As Jacob loved Rachel of old,
As Jesse loved his cups of gold,
My laddie, if ye'll believe me
?"
"Then ye'll tak' aff your robes o' reid,
And ye'll pit on the beggin'
weed,
And ye'll follow hard by at my
back
And ye'll be the beggar's dawtie."
And when they cam' to yonder toon
They bocht a loaf and they baith
sat doon,
They bocht a loaf and they baith
sat doon,
And the lassie ate wi' her
laddie.
But the lassie's courage began to fail,
And her rosie cheeks grew wan
and pale,
And the tears cam' trinklin'
doon like hail
Or a heavy shower in summer.
"O, gin I were on yonder hill
Where my faither's flocks do
feed their fill,
I would sit me doon and greet a
while
For the followin' o' my laddie."
When they cam' to yon marble gate,
Sae boldly as he knocked
thereat,
He rappit loud and he rappit
late,
And he rappit there sae rudely.
Then four-and-twenty gentlemen
Cam' oot to welcome the beggar
hame,
And just as mony ladies gay,
To welcome the young knicht's
lady.
His brither John stood next the wa',
He laughed till he was-like to
fa' :
"O brither, I wish we had beggit
a'
For sic a bonnie lassie."
"Yestreen, I was the beggar's bride,
This nicht I'll lay doon by his
side,
I've come to gweed by my
misguide,
For noo I'm the young knicht's
lady."
Footnote : The story of the
young woman marrying a beggar, who is finally discovered to be a man of
substance, was a favourite theme in Scottish songs. Child, who printed
five versions of this ballad, described it as 'a sort of Gaberlunyie Man
with a romantic conclusion.'
