I had a horse (1815-1825)/I had a horse

I HAD A HORSE.

I had a horse, and I had nae mair,
⁠I gat him frae my daddie,
My purse was light, and my heart was sair,
⁠But my wit it was fu' ready.
And sae I thought me on a time,
⁠Outwitens o' my daddie,
To fee mysel' to a lowland laird,
⁠Wha had a bonnie lady.

I wrote a letter, and thus began;
⁠Madam be not offended,
I'm o'er the lugs in love wi' you,
⁠And care na' though you kend it;
For I get little frae the laird,
⁠And far less frae my daddy,
And I wad blythely be the man,
⁠Wad strive to please his lady.

She read the letter and she leugh,
⁠Ye needna been sae blate, man,
You might hae come to me yoursel',
⁠And tauld me o' your state man;
You might hae come to me yoursel',
⁠Outwittens o' ony body,
And made John Goukstoan o' the laird,
⁠And kiss'd his bonny lady.

Then she pat siller in my purse,
⁠We drank wine out o' a' coggie,
She fee'd a man to rub my horse,
⁠And vow but I was vogie,
But I gat ne'er sae sair a fleg,
⁠Since I cam frae my daddy,
The laird cam rap, rap to the yett,
⁠When I was wi' his lady.

Then she put me behint a chair,
⁠And hap'd me we a plaidie,
But I was like to swarf wi' fear,
⁠And wish'd me wi' my daddy
The laird gaed out, he saw na me;
⁠I gaed when I was ready:
I promis'd, but I ne'er gaed back,
⁠To see his bonnie lady.

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