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A VALENTINE.
- YE are twa laddies unco gleg,
- An’ blithe an’ bonnie:
- As licht o’ heel as Anster’s Meg;—
- Gin ye’d a lassie’s favor beg,
- I’ faith she couldna stir a peg
- Ance lookin’ on ye!
- He’s a douce wiselike callant—Jim:
- Of wit aye ready.
- Cuts aff ane’s sentence, ’t ither’s limb,
- An’ whiles he’s daft and whiles he’s grim,
- But brains?—wha’s got the like o’him
- In’s wee bit heidie?
- Dear laddie wi’ the curlin’ hair,
- Gentlest of ony:
- That gies kind looks an’ speeches fair
- To dour auld wives as lassies rare,—
- I ken a score o’ lads an’ mair,
- But nane like Johnnie!
- And gin ye learn the way to woo,
- Hae sweethearts mony,
- O laddie, never say ye loe
- An’ gie fause coin for siller true;
- A lassie’s sair heart’s naething new,—
- Mind o’ that, Johnnie.
- An’ dinna change your luve sae fast
- For ilk face bonnie,
- Lest waefu’ want track wilfu’ waste,
- And a’ your youthfu’ years lang past,
- Ye get the crookit stick at last,
- Ochone, puir Johnnie!
- But callants baith, tak tent, and when
- Bright e’en hae won ye,
- Tak each your jo—and keep her—then
- Be faithfu’ as ye’re fond, ye ken,
- Or—gang your gate like honest men,
- Young Jim and Johnnie.
- Sae when auld Time his crookit claw
- Sall lay upon ye,
- When, Jim, your feet that dance sae braw
- Are no the lightest in the ha’,
- An’ a’ your curly haffets fa’,
- My winsome Johnnie,—
- May each his ain warm ingle view,
- Cosie as ony:
- A gudewife sonsie, leal and true,
- O’ bonnie dochters not a few,
- An’ lads—sic lads as ye’re the noo—
- Dear Jim and Johnnie!
