Had I The Wyte.

Tune - "Had I the wyte she bade me."


I.

    Had I the wyte, had I the wyte,
        Had I the wyte she bade me;
    She watch'd me by the hie-gate side.
        And up the loan she shaw'd me;
    And when I wadna venture in,
        A coward loon she ca'd me;
    Had kirk and state been in the gate,
        I lighted when she bade me.

II.

    Sae craftilie she took me ben,
        And bade me make nae clatter;
    "For our ramgunshoch glum gudeman
        Is out and owre the water:"
    Whae'er shall say I wanted grace
        When I did kiss and dawte her,
    Let him be planted in my place,
        Syne say I was the fautor.

III.

    Could I for shame, could I for shame,
        Could I for shame refused her?
    And wadna manhood been to blame,
        Had I unkindly used her?
    He claw'd her wi' the ripplin-kame,
        And blue and bluidy bruised her;
    When sic a husband was frae hame,
        What wife but had excused her?

IV.

    I dighted ay her een sae blue,
        And bann'd the cruel randy;
    And weel I wat her willing mou',
        Was e'en like sugar-candy.
    A gloamin-shot it was I wot,
        I lighted on the Monday;
    But I cam through the Tysday's dew,
        To wanton Willie's brandy.