* ARLES *

For arles he gae me a kiss,

An’ twa ilka day was my fee;

A bargain nae surely amiss,

If paid where naebody could see.

But scarce was the compact complete

Ere I would hae broke n't again,

The arles he gae were sae sweet,

For mair o’ them, Sirs, I was fain.

It's braw wi’ the tweezlock to twine

Lang rapes in the barn sae lythe,

Yet better by far when it's fine,

An’ I gaither after his scythe.

O busy's the banster at e'en

Till bedtime he sits an’ he glooms,

An’ aye he cries “Lassie, a preen”

An’ worries the stobs in his thooms.

The laddie is tired wi’ the rake,

Sleep soon puts a steek in his e'e,

An’ I slip awa’ to the break

An’ cannily gather my fee.