Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 117
A man and his wife wer fawn in a ftrife,
I canna weel tell ye how it began ;
But aye fhe wail'd her wretched life,
Cryeng, Evir alake, mine auld gocdman !
He.
; :
Thy auld goodman, that thou tells of,
The country kens where he was born, 10
Was but a filly poor vagabond,
And ilka ane leugh him to fcorn
For he did fpend and make an end
Of gear « his fathers nevir' wan
He gart the poor Hand frae the door ;
Sae tell nae mair of thy auld goodman.
She.
My heart, alake ! is liken to break,
Whan I think on my winfome John,
His blinkan ee, and gait fae free,
Was naithing like thee, thou dofend drone; 2©
Wi' his rofie face, and flaxen hair,
And a fltin as white as ony fwan,
He was large and tall, and comely withall
Thou'lt nevir be like mine auld goodman.
He.
Why dolt thou plein ? I thee maintein; 25
For meal and mawt thou difna want;
But thy wild bees I canna pleafe,
Now whan our gear gins to grow fcant;
I 3 Of
;
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