As she gaed up the tolbooth stair, The cripples there stood monie; 10 And she dealt the red gowd them among, To pray for her love Geordie.
And whan she cam into the hall, The nobles there stood monie; And ilka ane stood hat on head, 15 But hat in hand stood Geordie.
Up bespak a Norlan lord, I wat he spak na bonnie,-- "If ye'll stay here a little while, Ye'll see Geordie hangit shortly." 20
Then up bespak a baron bold, And O but he spak bonnie,-- "If ye'll pay doun five hundred crowns, Ye'se get your true-love Geordie."
Some lent her guineas, some lent her crowns, 25 Some lent her shillings monie; And she's paid doun five hundred crowns, And she's gotten her bonnie love Geordie.
When she was mounted on her hie steed, And on ahint her Geordie, 30 Nae bird on the brier e'er sang sae clear, As the young knight and his ladie.
_"My Geordie O, my Geordie O,_ _O the love I bear to Geordie;_ _The very stars in the firmament_ 35 _Bear tokens I loe Geordie."_
Tea-Table Miscellany, i. 104; _Old Ballads_, iii. 259.
It is tradition that King James the Fifth of Scotland was in the habit of wandering about his dominions in disguise, and engaging in amours with country girls. One of these is thought to be described in the witty ballad of _The Jolly Beggar_, (Herd's _Scotish Songs_, ii. 164, Ritson's _Scotish Songs_, i. 168,) and another in _The Gaberlunzie-Man_, both of which are universally attributed (though without evidence) to James's pen. The character of James V., it has been remarked (_Gent. Mag._ Oct. 1794, p. 913,) resembled both in licentiousness and genius, that of the troubadour sovereign, William the Ninth, Count of Poitiers, who appears to have had the same vagrant habits.
With _The Jolly Beggar_ may be compared _Der Bettelmann_, in Hoffmann's _Schlesische Volkslieder_, p. 45.
The pawky auld carle came o'er the lee, Wi' many goode'ens and days to me, Saying, "Goodwife, for your courtesie, "Will you lodge a silly poor man?" The night was cauld, the carle was wat, 5 And down ayont the ingle he sat; My daughters shoulders he gan to clap, And cadgily ranted and sang.
"O wow!" quo' he, "were I as free, As first when I saw this country, 10 How blyth and merry wad I be, And I wad never think lang." He grew canty, and she grew fain, But little did her auld minny ken, What thir slee twa togither were say'ng, 15 When wooing they were sae thrang.