Wit & humour > Gentle shepherd

44 72* GENTLE SHEPHERD.
S Y M O N, G L A U D, and E LS P A.
G L A U D.
WE anes were young ourfelves, 1 like to fee
The bairns bob round with other merryly.
Troth Symon, Patie’s grown a ftrapan lad.
And better looks than his I never bade.
Amang our lads, he bears the gree awa\
And tells his tale the clevereft of them a’.
E l s P A.
Poor man! he’s a great comfort to us baith;
God mak him good, and hide him ay frae fkaith.
He is a bairn Til fay’t well worth our care.
That gae us ne’er vexation late or air.
G l a u D.
I trow, goodvvife, if I be not millaen, V
He feems to be with Peggy’s beauty tane; £
And troth my niece Is a right dainty wean, J
As ye weil ken ; a bonnyer needna be.
Nor better, be't ftie were nae kin to me.
Symon. • •
Ha Glaud! I doubt that ne’er will be a match.
My Patie’s wild, and will be ill to catch;
And or he were, for reafons I’ll no tell,
I’d rather be mixt with the mools my fell.
Claud.
What reafbn can ye have ? there’s nane. I’m fure,
Unlefs ye may call up that flic’s but poor:
But gif the laflie marry to my mind.
I’ll be to her as my ain Jenny kind:
Fourfcore of breeding ews of my ain birn.
Five Ky that at ae milking fills a kirn.
I’ll gie to Peggy that day fhe’s a bride;
By and attour, if my good luck abide,
Ten Iambs at fpaining time, aslang’s I live.
And twa quey cawfs I’ll yearly to them give.
Elspa.