3 Up then spoke a young squire’s son, And as he spoke it all alone; ‘Oh, I would give a guinea of gold, And so would I a pint of wine, And I would make them their licence free That would welcome this bonnie lassie in.’ 4 The ostler’s wife, on hearin this, So nimbly down the stairs she ran, And the first toun’s-body that she met Was the bonnie lass o the hie toun end. 5 ‘Mistress, ye maun gang wi me And get a cup o oor claret wine; It’s new come oer the ragin sea, Awat it is baith gude and fine.’ 6 ‘To gang wi you I daurna stay, My mither’s wearyin for me in; I am so beautiful and fine I am a prey to all young men.’ 7 Wi sattin slippers on her feet, So nimbly up the stair she ran, And wha so ready as this young squire To welcome the bonny lassie in. 8 He[’s] taen her by the milk-white hand, He’s gently led her through the room, And aye she sighed, and aye she said, It would be a pity to do me wrong. 9 ‘Now, since you’ve taken your will o me, I pray, kind sir, tell me your name;’ ‘Oh yes, my dear, indeed,’ he said ‘But it’s more than I ever did to one. 10 ‘I am a squire and a squire’s son, My faither has fifty ploughs o land, And I’m a man in the militrie, And I must away and rank up my men. 11 ‘And Jamie Lumsdaine is my name, From the North Countrie, love, I really came.’ 12 About a twelvemonth after that, He sent a letter owre the main, And muckle writin was therein, To the bonnie lass o the hie toun end. 13 About a twelvemonth after that, He himsel cam owre the main; He made her Duchess o Douglas Dale, And to him she’s had a fine young son. D Gibb MS., No 14, p. 57. From the recitation of Eppie Fraser, daughter of a tramp, and unable to read, about 1840. 1 All the soldiers in Edinburgh town Were sitting drinking at the wine, An all the toasts that were among them Was a health to the lassie that goes sae fine. 2 Up then spake an officier, The bravest in the company; ‘To every one I will give a guinea, A guinea and a pint of wine, To the ostler’s wife I wald double it a’, If she’d entice that young lassie in.’ 3 The old wife tripped down the stair, And aye she said, ‘A good morrow, dame!’ And aye she said, an the maid replied, ‘What is your will wi me, madam?’ 4 ‘It’s not to do you any harm, Or yet your body any ill, But, if you would my favour gain, Come up an taste one glass of wine.’ 5 ‘My father stands on the stair-head, Just lookin for me to come in; I am so proper and so tall I’m much afraid of your merry men.’