AAAAA XXVIII. The Northern Ditty: Or, The

Scotchman outwitted by the Country Damsel.

To a new Scotch Tune.

Now I am got into the Reign of King James the First, I shall chuse to insert the

following Song, said to be written much about his time on an amorous Intrigue of a certain Great Man. One would not chuse to insert bare Conjectures, without being able to second 'em with good Arguments, or at least very great Probabilities; my Reader will therefore excuse me, I hope, from relating the Particulars I have heard; and I shall make no Observation on the Song, save, that the Scottish Dialect pretty plainly intimates that it was written on some Perfon

of that Nation. Со Old and Raw the North did blow,

Bleak in the Morning early, All the Trees were hid with Snow,

Cover'd with Winter Yearly : As I was riding o'er the Slough,

I met with a Farmer's Daughter, Rosy Cheeks and a bonny Brow, Good Faith my Mouth did water.

Down

Down I vail'd my Bonnet low,

Meaning to show my Breeding,
She return'd a graceful Bow,

Her Visage far exceeding :
I ask'd her where she was going so soon,

And long'd to hold a Parley,
She told me to the next Market-Town,

On purpose to sell her Barley.
In this Purse, sweet Soul, said I,

Twenty Pounds lies fairly,
Seek no further one to buy,

For Ise take all thy Barley :
Twenty Pound more shall purchase Delight,

Thy Person I love so dearly,
If thou wilt lig with me all Night,

And gang Home in the Morning early.
If Forty Pound would buy the Globe,

This thing I'd not do, Sir,
Or were my Friends as Poor as Fob,

I'd never raise 'em so, Sir,
For should you prove one Night my Friend,

We's get a young Kid together,
And you'd be gone e'er nine Month's end,

Then where should I find the Father ?
Pray what would my Parents say,

If I should be so silly,
To give my Maidenhead away,

And lose my true Love Billy ?
Oh, this would bring me to Disgrace,

And therefore I say you nay, Sir;
And if that you would me embrace,

First marry, and then you may, Sir. I told her I had wedded been

Fourteen Years, and longer, Else I'd chuse her for my Queen,

And tye the Knot more stronger,

She

She bid me then no farther come,

But manag'd my Wedlock fairly, And keep my Purse for poor Spouse at home,

For some other should buy her Barley. Then as swift as any Roe,

She rode away and left me; After her I could not go,

Of Joy she quite bereft me :
Thus I my self did disappoint,

For she did leave me fairly;
My Words knock'd all things out of joynt,

I loft both the Maid and the Barley.
Riding down a narrow Lane,

Some two or three Hours after, There I chanc'd to meet again,

This Farmer's bonny Daughter :
Although it was both Raw and Cold,

I stay'd to hold a Parley,
And shew'd once more my Purse of Gold,

When as she had fold her Barley.

Love, said I, pray do not frown,

But let us change Embraces, I'll buy thee a silken Gown,

With Ribbons, Gloves and Laces ; A Ring and Bodkin, Muff and Fan,

No Lady shall have neater ; For, as I am an honest Man,

I ne'er saw a sweeter Creature.
Then I took her by the Hand,

And said, my dearest Jewel,
Why should'nt thou thus difputing stand,

I prithee be not cruel.
She found my Mind was fully bent,

To pleasure my fond Defire,
Therefore she seemed to consent,

But I wish I had never come nigh her.