_"My Geordie O, my Geordie O,_ _O the love I bear to Geordie;_ _The very stars in the firmament_ 35 _Bear tokens I loe Geordie."_ THE GABERLUNZIE-MAN. Tea-Table Miscellany, i. 104; _Old Ballads_, iii. 259. It is tradition that King James the Fifth of Scotland was in the habit of wandering about his dominions in disguise, and engaging in amours with country girls. One of these is thought to be described in the witty ballad of _The Jolly Beggar_, (Herd's _Scotish Songs_, ii. 164, Ritson's _Scotish Songs_, i. 168,) and another in _The Gaberlunzie-Man_, both of which are universally attributed (though without evidence) to James's pen. The character of James V., it has been remarked (_Gent. Mag._ Oct. 1794, p. 913,) resembled both in licentiousness and genius, that of the troubadour sovereign, William the Ninth, Count of Poitiers, who appears to have had the same vagrant habits. With _The Jolly Beggar_ may be compared _Der Bettelmann_, in Hoffmann's _Schlesische Volkslieder_, p. 45. The pawky auld carle came o'er the lee, Wi' many goode'ens and days to me, Saying, "Goodwife, for your courtesie, "Will you lodge a silly poor man?" The night was cauld, the carle was wat, 5 And down ayont the ingle he sat; My daughters shoulders he gan to clap, And cadgily ranted and sang. "O wow!" quo' he, "were I as free, As first when I saw this country, 10 How blyth and merry wad I be, And I wad never think lang." He grew canty, and she grew fain, But little did her auld minny ken, What thir slee twa togither were say'ng, 15 When wooing they were sae thrang. "And O!" quo' he, "ann ye were as black, As e'er the crown of my dady's hat, 'Tis I wad lay thee by my back, And awa' wi' me thou shou'd gang." 20 "And O!" quo' she, "ann I were as white, As e'er the snaw lay on the dyke, I'd clead me braw, and lady-like, And awa with thee I'd gang." Between the twa was made a plot; 25 They raise a wee before the cock, And wilily they shot the lock, And fast to the bent are they gane. Up the morn the auld wife raise, And at her leisure pat on her claise; 30 Syne to the servant's bed she gaes, To speer for the silly poor man. She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay, The strae was cauld, he was away; She clapt her hands, cry'd "Waladay! 35 For some of our gear will be gane." Some ran to coffers, and some to kists, But nought was stown that cou'd be mist: She danc'd her lane, cry'd, "Praise be blest! I have lodg'd a leal poor man. 40