Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RAB MCLINTOCK'S PENNY WEDDIN', by KENNETH MCLACHLAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RAB MCLINTOCK'S PENNY WEDDIN', by                    
First Line: Ance on a time twa handsome youths
Last Line: And ranks hersel' amang the wealthy.
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


ANCE on a time twa handsome youths,
As simple as their hearts were lovin',
Wha thought the world a' guileless truths --
A notion that would need some provin', --
Had made a vow to live as ane,
But had nae plenishin' nor beddin',
And thought through Providence to gain
Some down-sit by a Penny Weddin'.

At Martinmas it was to be,
When country folk were routh o' siller,
And ploughmen chiel's had got their fee,
Sae settled Rab, and named it till her.
Soon wi' the news the parish rang,
Soon frien's and freme-folk got a bidden,
An' boon a' that was said or sang,
Cam' Rab M'Lintock's Penny Weddin'.

The help o' fiddler Joe was got,
Wi' poacher Pate, and Will the cadger,
And piper-major Johnie Groat,
A pension'd Peninsula sodger;
And bellman Sandy, wi' the wife,
And jolly Jim the auld gravedigger,
A' wags and wits o' country life,
To mak' the fun and party bigger.

The great important day cam' roun',
An' a' was bustle in the clachan:
Douce wives, wi' ilka haveral loon,
Had their comments and roars o' lauchin.
The gallant piper led the van,
On to the manse they cheer'd and tarried,
Till he wha could at length began,
And join'd the couple -- duly married.

Some had gi'en presents to the bride,
And a' had paid their score o' siller,
Wi' ilka eatable beside,
For weeks they had been bringin' till her.
At last the barn was seated fine,
A' tables cled wi' every denty,
Then herds and cotters sat to dine
On sonsie pies and haggis plenty.

The supper past, the floor was clear'd,
And yill gaed roun' in jugs and bickers;
The bottl'd spirits cam' and cheer'd
Their hearts wi' ilka kind o' liquors.
And o'er the snuff-mull cam' the crack
On heavy craps and gaucy cattle;
Auld folk, reflectin', lookit back
On marriage joys and life's lang battle.

Pate roar'd the "Lass o' Ballochmyle,"
Kate skirl'd the "Lads o' Gala Water,"
'Tween tragic scowl and idiot smile,
The Bellman raved wi' stamp and clatter.
Syne Jim wi' "Wat and Meg" was thrang,
But finished aff wi' "Nocht like Leather;"
The "Cock's Craw" mixed wi' Geordie's sang
O' "O'er the Moor amang the Heather."

The elder folk had toddled hame,
The youngsters waited for the dancin';
A' join'd the reel wha werena lame,
And hooch'd! wi' antic steps, and prancin'.
Thus fled the nicht wi' toasts and sangs,
And a' held on while they were able,
Till stools and seats together bangs
As Pate falls flounderin' o'er the table.

Wi' "Babbity Bowster" cam' the end,
Jean kiss'd her Jo, and Jock his Jenny,
Wi' after splores that werena kenn'd,
That left them maist withoot a penny.
Syne beddin' time cam' on, and then
The bride and bridegroom threw their stockin',
And they were caught by squintin' Jen
And stutterin' Tam, 'mang gibes and jokin'.

Far on the road puir Jamie Bain,
Wi' kindly heart as saft as butter,
Lay wi' his head upon a stane,
His sturdy legs alang the gutter.
A' raise frae rest wi' rentin' heids,
When conscience gie'd ilk ane their sentence;
Pain is the price o' naughty deeds,
And after folly comes repentance.

Meg wasna feckless, Rab was douce,
Debauch had set their minds a-thinkin';
They mourn'd the wreck about their house,
And vowed ne'er to indulge in drinkin'.
They lectures got frae feetless chairs,
And sermons had frae broken dishes;
For witless joys bring after cares,
Sic pranks will ne'er content our wishes.

They plann'd together, toil'd and spared,
And baith grew thrifty, lead, and willin';
But how he raise to be a laird
Would take me here o'er lang the tellin'.
She's settled noo as grand-mamma,
'Mang weel-clad bairns, brisk and healthy,
The blithe, respected pride o' a',
And ranks hersel' amang the wealthy.





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