The Wedding Rime
I went down to Paible one morning when 'twas very cold; my boon companion met me, he and Lachlan Ruadh; we made for the knoll where there was a goodly gathering of people: as they missed us with the bottle, here is my tale to tell of it.
We sat down by the fire, and the lads were in our company; the slobber-lipped miller went ben with his whine, enlarging on the number he had seen and saying he could not serve them all — " There are three weather-worn fellows down there as broad as any in the land. "
Said Donald son of Martin, " From what airt have you come? If this were the wedding, you would deserve the knout. Though you be left without cheer do not grumble ever; do not mention lack of hospitality since you are unbidden guests.
" There is a thing that I lack and I like it not — the mikmaids are mine no more; good were they in time of spring and when the land was most in want, with porridge, bannocks, gruel, and a semblance of butter; the healthy would have their fill there, and the sick their return to health.
" 'Tis a matter which perturbs me — the milkmaids are mine no more; I would find them at the shieling attending the milch-kine; with butter, curds, and cheese, froth, and dregs, and plenty whey; with milk-pails, pots, and butter-milk, and plasterings of butter.
" Now that I have left them, my best wishes to the lasses; I would find them on the shieling knoll herding the milch-kine; it was part of your amusement to be with me in the night; I would lie a while along with you, and there would be a gurgle inside me when I left. "
" 'Tis time for us to go home, as our quarters are not near us, since we got no bidding to feasting or to music. If this be the company that missed us with the bottle, leave him where you found him — the red-headed ... "
We sat down by the fire, and the lads were in our company; the slobber-lipped miller went ben with his whine, enlarging on the number he had seen and saying he could not serve them all — " There are three weather-worn fellows down there as broad as any in the land. "
Said Donald son of Martin, " From what airt have you come? If this were the wedding, you would deserve the knout. Though you be left without cheer do not grumble ever; do not mention lack of hospitality since you are unbidden guests.
" There is a thing that I lack and I like it not — the mikmaids are mine no more; good were they in time of spring and when the land was most in want, with porridge, bannocks, gruel, and a semblance of butter; the healthy would have their fill there, and the sick their return to health.
" 'Tis a matter which perturbs me — the milkmaids are mine no more; I would find them at the shieling attending the milch-kine; with butter, curds, and cheese, froth, and dregs, and plenty whey; with milk-pails, pots, and butter-milk, and plasterings of butter.
" Now that I have left them, my best wishes to the lasses; I would find them on the shieling knoll herding the milch-kine; it was part of your amusement to be with me in the night; I would lie a while along with you, and there would be a gurgle inside me when I left. "
" 'Tis time for us to go home, as our quarters are not near us, since we got no bidding to feasting or to music. If this be the company that missed us with the bottle, leave him where you found him — the red-headed ... "
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