Bess the Gawkie
Muirhead, James
Published 1776
BLYTHE Young Bess to Jean did say,
"Will ye gang to yon sunny brae,
Where flocks do feed and herds do stray,
" And sport awhile wi' Jamie ? "
' Ah, na, lass ! I'll no gang there,
Nor about Jamie tak' a care,
Nor about Jamie tak' a care,
For he's ta'en up wi' Maggie. "
"For hark and I will tell you, lass,
Did I not see young Jamie pass,
Wi' meikle blytheness in his face,
Out owre the muir to Maggie ?
I wat he gae her mony a kiss,
And Maggie took them nae amiss,
"Twixt ilka smack pleased her wi' this,
That Bess was but a gawkie.
“ For when a civil kiss I seek,
She turns her head, and thraws her cheek,
And for an hour she'll hardly speak ;
Wha'd no ca' her a gawkie?,
But sure my Maggie has mair sense ;
She'll gi'e a score without offence :
Now gi'e me ane into the mense,
And ye sall be my dawtie.' "
" O, Jamie, ye ha'e mony ta'en,
But I will never stand for ane,
Or twa when we do meet again ;
So ne'er think me a gawkie !'
' Ah na, lass, that canna be ;
Sic thochts as thae are far frae me,
Or ony thy sweet face that see,
E'er to think thee a gawkie. '
"But whisht ! nae mair o' this we'll speak,
For yonder Jamie does us meet :
Instead o' Meg he kissed so sweet,
I trow he likes his gawkie. "
" O, dear Bess, I hardly knew,
When I cam' by, your gown sae new.
I think you've got it weet wi' dew. "
Quo' she, "That's like a gawkie.
"It's weet wi' dew, and will get rain ;
And I'll get gowns when it is gane ;
Sae ye may gang the gate ye cam',
And tell it to your dawtie. "
The guilt appeared in Jamie's cheek :
He cried, "O cruel maid, but sweet,
If I could gang anither gate,
I ne'er could meet my dawtie. "
The lasses fast frae him they flew,
And left poor Jamie sair to rue
That ever Maggie's face he knew,
Or yet ca'ed Bess a gawkie.
As they gaed owre the muir they sang,
The hills and dales wi' echo rang,
The hills and dales wi' echo rang,
Gang owre the muir to Maggie ! "
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