The True Sweetheart

The True Sweetheart

A FAIR maid sat at her bower-door.
Wringing her lily hands ;
And by it came a sprightly youth
Fast tripping o'er the strands.

' Where gang ye, young John,' she says,
' Sae early in the day "i
' It gars me think, by your fast trip,
'Your journey's far away.'

He turn'd about with surly look.
And said, ' What's that to thee ?
' I'm gaen' to see a lovely maid
' Mair fairer far than ye.'

— ' False Love, and hast thou play'd me this
' In summer among the flowers ?
'I will repay thee back again
' In winter among the showers.

' Unless again, again, my Love,
' Unless you turn again ;
' As you with other maidens rove,
' I'll smile on other men.'

— ' O make your choice of whom you please,
' For I my choice will have ;
' I've chosen a maid mair fair than thee,
' I never will deceive.'

She kilted up her clothing fine,
And after him gaed she ;
But aye he said, ' Turn back, turn back,
' No further gang with me ! '

' — But again, dear Love, and again, dear Love,
' Will ye ne'er love me again ?
'Alas for loving you sae weel,
'And you nae me again ! '

The firstan town that they came till,
He bought her brooch and ring ;
But aye he bade her turn again.
And no farther gang with him.

' But again, dear Love, and again, dear Love,
' Will ye ne'er love me again ?
'Alas I for loving you sae wecl,
' And you nae me again ! '

The second town that they came till.
His heart it grew more fain ;
And he was as deep in love with her
As she with him again.

The neistan town that they came till,
He bought her wedding-gown ;
And made her lady of halls and bowers,
In bonny Berwick town.

Anon