RPO -- Allan Ramsay : Katy's Answer

Allan Ramsay (1686-1758)

Katy's Answer

1My mither's ay glowran o'er me,

2Tho she did the same before me,

3 I canna get leave

4 To look to my loove,

5Or else she'll be like to devour me.

6 Right fain wad I take ye'r offer,

7Sweet Sir, but I'll tine my tocher,

8 Then, Sandy, ye'll fret,

9 And wyt ye'r poor Kate,

10When e'er ye keek in your toom coffer.

11 For tho my father has plenty

12Of siller and plenishing dainty,

13 Yet he's unco sweer

14 To twin wi' his gear,

15And sae we had need to be tenty.

16 Tutor my parents wi' caution,

17Be wylie in ilka motion,

18 Brag well o' ye'r land,

19 And there's my leal hand,

20Win them, I'll be at your devotion.

Notes

1] glowran: gazing.

7] tine: forfeit, lose.
tocher: dowry.

9] wyt: blame.

10] keek: peep.
toom: empty.

13] unco: unusually.
sweer: slow.

14] twin: part with.

15] tenty: careful.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Allan Ramsay, Poems, 3rd edn. (Edinburgh, 1720). B-10 8074 Fisher Rare Book Library
First publication date: 1720
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.644; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/1/30

Rhyme: aabba

Other poems by Allan Ramsay