Lamkin
No: 93; variant: 93H
- BAULD RANKIN was as gude a mason
as eer biggit wi stane;
He has biggit a bonny castle,
but siller he gat nane.
- 'Gae bar the gates,' the lady said,
'gae bar them out and in;
Leave not a door open,
lest Rankin should come in.'
- They've bard them on the outer side,
sae hae they on the in;
But left the cellar-door open,
and Bauld Rankin crap in.
- 'Where's a' the women o the house?'
says Bauld Rankin:
'They're at the well washing,'
says the fause nurse to him.
- 'Where's a' the men of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'They are at the barn thrashing,'
says the fause nurse to him.
- 'Where's the lady of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'She's in the chamber, sleeping,'
says the fause nurse to him.
- 'How will we get her wakent?
how will we get her down?'
'We'll pierce the baby's heart's blood,'
says the fause nurse to him.
- 'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come please it wi the keys:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
tho I'll down on my knees.'
- 'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the knife:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
should I lay down my life.'
- 'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the bell:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come down yoursel.'
- 'How can I come down, how can I come,
sae late in the night,
And neither coal nor candle,
for to shew me light?'
- The first step she steppit,
she steppit on a stane;
The next step she steppit,
she met the Bauld Rankin.
- 'O spare my life, Rankin,
O spare it most dear!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as birds in the air.
- 'O spare my life, Rankin,
O save it most sweet!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as there's stanes in the street.'
- 'I wish my wife and bairns
may be all well at hame;
For the buttons on my waistcoat
they winna bide on.
- 'I wish my wife and family
may be all well at home;
For the rings upon my fingers
they winna bide on.'
- He has kindled a big bane-fire,
in the middle o the closs,
And he has burned Bauld Rankin,
likewise the fause nurse.