Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Songs. III. The Laird o CockpenCarolina, Lady Nairne (17661845)
T
His mind is ta’en up wi’ things o’ the State;
He wanted a wife, his braw house to keep,
But favour wi’ wooin’ was fashious to seek.
At his table head he thought she’d look well,
M’Clish’s ae daughter o’ Clavers-ha’ Lee,
A penniless lass wi’ a lang pedigree.
His waistcoat was white, his coat it was blue;
He put on a ring, a sword, and cock’d hat,
And wha could refuse the laird wi’ a’ that?
An’ rapp’d at the yett o’ Clavers-ha’ Lee;
“Gae tell Mistress Jean to come speedily ben,—
She’s wanted to speak to the Laird o’ Cockpen.”
“An’ what brings the laird at sic a like time?”
She put aff her apron, and on her silk gown,
Her mutch wi’ red ribbons, and gaed awa’ down.
An’ what was his errand he soon let her know;
Amazed was the laird when the lady said “Na,”
And wi’ a laigh curtsie she turned awa’.
He mounted his mare—he rade cannily;
An’ aften he thought, as he gaed through the glen,
She’s daft to refuse the laird o’ Cockpen.”
Mistress Jean she reflected on what she had said;
“Oh, for ane I’ll get better, its waur I’ll get ten,
I was daft to refuse the Laird o’ Cockpen.”
They were gaun arm-in-arm to the kirk on the green;
Now she sits in the ha’ like a weel-tappit hen,
But as yet there’s nae chickens appear’d at Cockpen.