HAD I the wyte, had I the wyte,
Had I the wyte? she bade me;
She watchd me by the hie-gate side,
And up the loan she shawd me.
And when I wadna venture in,
A coward loon she cad me:
Had Kirk an State been in the gate,
Id lighted when she bade me.
Sae craftilie she took me ben,
And bade me mak nae clatter;
For our ramgunshoch, glum gudeman
Is oer ayont the water.
Whaeer 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.
Could I for shame, could I for shame,
Could I for shame refusd her;
And wadna manhood been to blame,
Had I unkindly used her!
He clawd her wi the ripplin-kame,
And blae and bluidy bruisd her;
When sic a husband was frae hame,
What wife but wad excusd her!
I dighted aye her een sae blue,
An bannd the cruel randy,
And weel I wat, her willin mou
Was sweet as sugar-candie.
At gloamin-shot, it was I wot,
I lighted on the Monday;
But I cam thro the Tysedays dew,
To wanton Willies brandy.