[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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sATS I, QUO' I.
In her ain faither's barn, amang the fresh strae,
As in ilk ither's arms we sae cosily lay
" Oh Jeanie, quo' I, will ye gie yovir consent,
An' say we'll be married—an' dinna relent
My heart's in a lowe, an' I'm a' in a fry
I'm deein' o' luve ! says I quo' I."
Says she, quo' she, " dear Robin tak' tent
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O' what thou's noo sayin', thou'll maybe repent
For thy words spring frae folly, an' fickle desire
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The best cure for a hum's baud it weel to the fire :
Ay, gif we were married the day ere the morn,
Thy fine glowin' speeches would a' turn to scorn :
'Deed ere sax months are ended — ye'U live yet to see
It's the truth I am tellin' "—says she, quo' she.
Says I, quo I, to my ain wife Jean,
When aughteen lang owks we married had been
The meal it was done, an' the 'taties were scant.
An' wark I had nane—we were likely to want
Our frien's were hard-hearted—our credit was gane
No a plack either frien'ship or credit to buy.
" Oh ! " quo I— as I glower't in the face o' our Jean
" May the de'il tak' this marriage !" says I, quo' I.
Says she, quo' she—an' loud leugh our Jean
" Do ye min' the barn, Robin, yon Friday at e'en
When ye vow't neither trouble or care should e'er turn
That luve that occasion'd your heart sae to hum
But poverty, noo, has gi'en us a claw,
An' chas'd a' that luve that ye bore me awa :
A' your vows an' professions—they're no worth a flee :
Losh ! how foolish he leuks !" says she, quo' she.
Says I, quo' I—as cuif-like I luikit
" Faith, guidwife, I maun own that I'm tightly rebuikit
For that luve that I spak' o' I fin's no' the thing
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