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AULD ROBIN THE LAIRD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Auld robin, the laird, thocht o' changin' his life
Last Line: "very weel, sir,"" quo' tibby, ""sae let it be!"
Subject(s): Household Employees; Marriage; Servants; Domestics; Maids; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


AULD Robin, the laird, thocht o' changin' his life,
But he didna weel ken whaur to wale a guid wife.
A plump quean had he who had serv'd him for years;
"Ho, Tibby, come here," an' lo, Tibby appears.
"Sit doun," said the laird, "ye are wanted awee."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be."

"Noo, Tibby," quo' he, "there's a queer rumour rins,
Thro' the haill countryside, that there's naebody spins,
Bakes, washes, or brews, wi' sic talents as you --
An' what a' body says, ye ken, maun be true;
Sae ye ought to be gratefu' for their courtesie."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be."

"Noo, it seemeth but just an' richt proper to me,
You should milk your ain cow 'neath your ain fig-tree;
That a servant sae thrifty a guid wife will mak',
It's as clear as daylicht, sae a man ye maun tak',
Wha will haud ye as dear as the licht o' his e'e."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be."

"The pearl may be pure, Tib, though rough be the shell --
So I am determin'd tae wed ye mysel' --
An' a' that a lovin' an' leal heart can grant
O' this world's wealth, lass, troth, ye shall nae want;
Sae a kiss to the bargain ye maun gi'e to me."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be,"

The weddin'-day cam', wi' bridecake an' buns,
Finding Tib i' the kitchen 'mang tubs, pats, and pans.
"Bless me," quo' the laird, "what on earth hauds ye here?
Our friends are a' met in their braw bridal gear;
Ye maun busk in your best, and that richt speedily."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be."

When the blessing was said, an' the feastin' was dune,
Tib crapt to her bed i' the garret abune;
When she heard the laird's fit an' "rap" at her door,
She wonder'd -- he ne'er took sic freedom before.
"Come Tibby, my lass, ye maun listen to me."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be."

"Noo, Tibby, ye ken, we were wedded this nicht,
An' that ye should be here, haith, I think is no richt:
It canna be richt; for when women an' men
Are wedded, they ought to be bedded, ye ken.
Sae come doon the stair, Tib, an' e'en sleep wi' me."
"Very weel, sir," quo' Tibby, "sae let it be!"





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