Ye tourists, who Scotland would enter, The summer or autumn to pass, I’ll tell you how far you may venture To flirt with your lad or your lass; How close you may come upon marriage, Still keeping the wind of the law, And not, by some foolish miscarriage, Get woo’d and married an’ a’, _Woo’d and married an’ a’; Married and woo’d an’ a’: And not, by some foolish miscarriage, Get woo’d and married an’ a’._ This maxim itself might content ye, That marriage is made――by consent; Provided its done _de prœsenti_, And marriage is really what’s meant. Suppose that young Jocky and Jenny Say, “We two are husband and wife;” The witnesses need’nt be many―― They’re instantly buckled for life, _Woo’d and married an’ a’; Married and woo’d an’ a’: It isn’t with us a hard thing To get woo’d and married an’ a’._ Suppose the man only has spoken, The woman just giving a nod. They’re spliced by that very same token Till one of them’s under the sod. Though words would be bolder and blunter, The want of them isn’t a flaw; For _nutu signisque loquuntur_ Is good Consistorial Law. _Woo’d and married an’ a’; Married and woo’d an’ a’: A wink is as good as a word. To get woo’d and married an’ a’._ If people are drunk or delirious, The marriage of course will be bad; Or if they’re not sober and serious, But acting a play or charade. It’s bad if it’s only a cover For cloaking a scandal or sin, And talking a landlady over To let the folks lodge in her inn. _Woo’d and married an’ a’; Married and woo’d an’ a’: It isn’t the mere use of words Makes you woo’d and married an’ a’._ You’d better keep clear of love-letters, Or write them with caution and care; For, faith, they may fasten your fetters, If wearing a conjugal air. Unless you’re a knowing old stager, ’Tis here you’ll most likely be lost; As a certain much-talked-about Major[43] Had very near found to his cost. _Woo’d and married an’ a’; Married and woo’d an’ a’: They are perilous things, pen and ink, To get woo’d and married an’ a’._ I ought now to tell the unwary, That into the noose they’ll be led, By giving a promise to marry, And acting as if they were wed. But if, when the promise you’re plighting, To keep it you think you’d be loath,―― Just see that it isn’t in writing, And then it must come to your oath.