Three Excellent New Songs (5)/Peggy Bawn's Courtship

For other versions of this work, see Peggy Bawn.
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PEGGY BAWN.

A LOVE SONG.

As I went o'er the Highland hillsto a farmer's house I came,The night being late and something wet,I ventured into the same,Where I became a courtier,and a handsome young girl did 'spyWho asked me if I had a wife,but this I did then deny.
I courted her the whole night long,and a while of the next day,'Till simply she to me reply'd,along with you I'll gae,For Ireland is a bonny place,and bonny men therein,And I will go along with youmy fortune to begin.
Night being come and supper o'erwe went to take our rest,The goodman to the goodwife said,be kind unto your guest; ​For this courtier is an Irishman,an Irishman so brave,And if he stays in this country,our daughter he shall have.
The day being come, and breakfast o'erto the parlour I was ta'en,The goodman kindly asked me,if I'd marry their daughter Jean:An hundred merks I'II gie to thee,besides e piece of land,But scarcely had he spake these words,till I thought on Peggy Bawn.
Your offer sir is very good,and I thank you too, said I,But I cannot be your son-in-law,I'll tell you the reason why:My business calls me in great haste,I'm the king's messenger boundI cannot be your son-in-law,till I see Irish ground.
With hat in hand most courtiouslyI took leave of each one,Especially of that pretty young girl,whose wearied with lying alone. ​I bade farewell and came away,but in my mind it ran.How blyth and merry were the daysI spent with Peggy Bawn.
O Peggy Bawn I am thine own,my heart lies in your breast;And tho we at a distance areI still will love you the best,Although we at a distance areand seas between us roar,I'll constant be dear Peggy Bawn,to you for evermore.

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