GAFFER and MIRREN.
Mirren.
“LOVE shoud be free!”—My trouth, but ye craw crouse,
You a gudeman, an canna rule your house !
Had I a faither's power, I'd let her see,
Wi vengeance, whether or no that luve be free.
She kens richt weel Muirlan has ilk thing ready,
An fit tae keep her buskit like a leddie:
Yet sunes she hears me mention Muirlan Willie,
She skits an flings like ony towmont fillie—
Dell, nor ye'd broke your leg, gaun cross the hallan,
That day ye fee'd the skelpor Hielan callan ;
Weve fed him, cled him—whats our mense fort a ?
Base wretch, tae steal our dochter's heart awa!
“Love shoud be free!” gude trouth, a bonnie story !
That Muirlan maun be lost for Hielan Harry.
Muirlan comes doun this nicht—tae tauk's nae use,
For she shall gie consent or lea the hoose.
Oddsaffs ! my heart neer did wallop cadgier
Than whan the Laird took Harry for a sodger ;
An noo she sits a day, sae dowf an blearie,
An sings luve sangs about her Hielan Harry.
Gaf. Indeed, gudewife, the lad did weel eneuch,
Was eident ay, an deftly hel the pleuch ;
But Muirlan's up in years, an shame tae tell,
Has ne'er been marrit, tho as auld's mysel ;
His locks are lyart, an his joints are stiff,
A staff wad set him better than a wife.
Suner shall roses in December blaw,
Suner shall tulips flourish in the snaw,
Suner the wuds shall bud wi winter's cauld
Than lasses quit a young man for an auld :
Yet, she may tak him gin she likes, for me,
My say shall never mak them disagree.
Mir. Ye hinna the ambition o a moose;
She'll gie consent this nicht, or lea the hoose.