| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Hew Ainslie. 1792–1878 |
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| 619. Willie and Helen |
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| 'WHAREFORE sou'd ye talk o' love, | |
| Unless it be to pain us? | |
| Wharefore sou'd ye talk o' love | |
| Whan ye say the sea maun twain us?' | |
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| 'It 's no because my love is light, | 5 |
| Nor for your angry deddy; | |
| It 's a' to buy ye pearlins bright, | |
| An' to busk ye like a leddy.' | |
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| 'O Willy, I can caird an' spin, | |
| Se ne'er can want for cleedin'; | 10 |
| An' gin I hae my Willy's heart, | |
| I hae a' the pearls I'm heedin'. | |
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| 'Will it be time to praise this cheek | |
| Whan years an' tears has blench'd it? | |
| Will it be time to talk o' love | 15 |
| Whan cauld an' care has quench'd it?' | |
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| He's laid ae han' about her waist— | |
| The ither 's held to heaven; | |
| An' his luik was like the luik o' man | |
| Wha's heart in twa is riven. | 20 |
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GLOSS: cleedin'] clothing. |
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