POEMS 177 



Meg, a' sabbin sae to lose him, 



Sic a change had never wist ; 

 Held his hand close to her bosom, 



While her heart was like to burst. 



"O, my Watty, will ye lea' me, 

 Frien'less, helpless, to despair ? 



O ! for this ae time forgi'e me : 

 Never will I vex ye mair." 



"Ay ! ye've aft said that, and broken 

 A' your vows ten times a week ; 



No, no, Meg! See, there's a token 

 Glittering on my bonnet cheek. 



"Owre the seas I march this morning. 



Listed, tested, sworn and a' ; 

 Forced by your confounded girning — 



Farewell, Meg ! for I'm awa'." 



Then poor Maggy's tears and clamour 

 Gush afresh and louder grew; 



While the weans, wi' mournfu' yaumour,- 

 Round their sabbing mother flew. 



"Thro' the yirth^*' I'll waunner wi' you- 

 Stay, O Watty ! stay at hame ; 



Here upo' my knees I'll gi'e you 

 Ony vow ye like to name ; 



"See your poor young lamies pleadin', 

 Will ye gang and break our heart? 



No a house to put our head in ! 

 No a friend to take our part !" 



^ uproar. ^ Earth. 



12 



5 



