There was five Carlins in the South,
They fellupon a scheme,
To send a lad to London town,
To bring them tidings hame.
Nor only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there,
And aiblinsgowdand honor baith
Might be that laddie’s share.
There was Maggy by the banks o’ Nith,
A dame wi’ pride eneugh;
And Marjory o’ the mony Lochs,
A Carlin auld and teugh.
And blinkinBess of Annandale,
That dwelt near Solway-side;
And whisky Jean, that took her gill,
In Galloway sae wide.
And auld black Joan frae Crichton Peel,^1
O’ gipsy kith an’kin;
Five wighterCarlins were na found
The South countrie within.
To send a lad to London town,
They met upon a day;
And mony a knight, and mony a laird,
This errand fain wad gae.
O mony a knight, and mony a laird,
This errand fainwad gae;
But nae ane could their fancy please,
O ne’er a ane but twae.
The first ane was a belted Knight,
Bred of a Border band;^2
And he wad gae to London town,
Might nae man him withstand.
And he wad do their errands weel,
And meikle he wad say;
And ilka aneabout the court
Wad bidto him gude-day.
The neistcamin a Soger youth,^3
Who spak wi’ modest grace,
And he wad gaeto London town,
If sae their pleasure was.
He wad nahecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meiklespeech pretend;
But he wad hechtanhonest heart,
Wad ne’er desert his friend.
Now, wham to chuse, and wham refuse,
At strife thirCarlins fell;
For some had Gentlefolks to please,
And some wad please themsel’.
Then out spak mim-mou’dMeg o’ Nith,
And she spak up wi’pride,
And she wad send the Soger youth,
Whatever might betide.
For the auld Gudeman o’ London court^4
She didna care a pin;
But she wad send the Sogeryouth,
To greethis eldest son.^5
Then up sprang Bess o’ Annandale,
And a deadly aithshe’s ta’en,
That she wadvote the Border Knight,
Though she should vote her lane.
“For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,
And fools o’ change are fain;
But I hae tried the Border Knight,
And I’ll try him yet again.”
Says black Joan fraeCrichton Peel,
A Carlinstoorand grim.
“The auld Gudeman or young Gudeman,
For me may sink or swim;
For fools will prate o’ right orwrang,
While knaves laugh them to scorn;
But the Soger’s friends haeblawnthe best,
So he shall bearthe horn.”
Then whisky Jean spakowreher drink,
“Ye weel ken, kimmers a’,
The auld gudeman o’ London court,
His back’s been at the wa’;
“And mony a friend that kiss’d his caup
Is now a fremitwight;
But it’s ne’er be said o’ whisky Jean-
We’ll send the Border Knight.”
Then slow raiseMarjory o’the Lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow,
Her ancient weed was russet gray,
Her auldScots bluidwas true;
“There’s some great folk set light by me,
I setas light bythem;
ButI will send to London town
WhamI like best at hame.”
Saehow this mighty plea may end,
Naemortal wightcan tell;
God grant the King and ilka man
May look weelto himsel.