| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Isobel Pagan. 1740–1821 |
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| 473. Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes |
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| CA' the yowes to the knowes, | |
| Ca' them where the heather grows, | |
| Ca' them where the burnie rows, | |
| My bonnie dearie. | |
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| As I gaed down the water side, | 5 |
| There I met my shepherd lad; | |
| He row'd me sweetly in his plaid, | |
| And he ca'd me his dearie. | |
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| 'Will ye gang down the water side, | |
| And see the waves sae sweetly glide | 10 |
| Beneath the hazels spreading wide? | |
| The moon it shines fu' clearly.' | |
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| 'I was bred up at nae sic school, | |
| My shepherd lad, to play the fool, | |
| And a' the day to sit in dool, | 15 |
| And naebody to see me.' | |
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| 'Ye sall get gowns and ribbons meet, | |
| Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet, | |
| And in my arms ye'se lie and sleep, | |
| And ye sall be my dearie.' | 20 |
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| 'If ye'll but stand to what ye've said, | |
| I'se gang wi' you, my shepherd lad, | |
| And ye may row me in your plaid, | |
| And I sall be your dearie.' | |
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| 'While waters wimple to the sea, | 25 |
| While day blinks in the lift sae hie, | |
| Till clay-cauld death sall blin' my e'e, | |
| Ye aye sall be my dearie!' | |
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GLOSS: yowes] ewes. knowes] knolls, little hills. rows] rolls. row'd] rolled, wrapped. dool] dule, sorrow. lift] sky. |
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