159. The Gardener

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I

The gardener stands in his bower-door,
With a primrose in his hand,
And by there came a leal[1291] maiden
As jimp[1292] as a willow wand.

II

‘O lady, can you fancy me,
For to be my bride?
Ye’se get a’ the flowers in my garden
To be to you a weed[1293].

III

‘The lily white sall be your smock
Becomes your body best;
Your head sall be busk’d wi’ gillyflower
And the primrose in your breast.

IV

‘Your gown sall be the sweet-william,
Your coat the camovine[1294],
Your apron a’ the salluds neat
That taste baith sweet and fine.

V

‘Your stockings sall be o’ the braid kail-blade,
That is baith braid and lang;
And narrow, narrow at the cute[1295],
And braid, braid at the brawn[1296].

VI

‘Your gloves sall be the marigold,
All glittering to your hand,
Well spread o’er wi’ the blue blaewort[1297]
That grows amang corn-land.’—

VII

‘O fare ye well, young man,’ she says,
‘Farewell, and I bid adieu;
If you can fancy me,’ she says,
‘O I cannot fancy you.

VIII

‘Sin ye’ve provided a weed for me
Amang the summer flowers,
Then I’se provide anither for you
Amang the winter showers.—

IX

‘The new-fa’n snaw to be your smock
Becomes your body best;
An’ your head sall be wound wi’ the eastern wind,
An’ the cauld rain on your breast.’

FOOTNOTES:

[1291] leal = true.

[1292] jimp = slender.

[1293] weed = clothing.

[1294] camovine = camomile.

[1295] cute = ankle.

[1296] brawn = calf.

[1297] blaewort = corn bluebottle.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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