The Five Carlins. A Scots Ballad. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDC CEBE BFAF GHIH JKLK DMNO NOAP QRDR JMSM BADA ATUT AJAJ BHBH SKBV AWMX CCYC JBQB EZQA2 B2ASP C2QD2Q JCD2C B2FD2F TJD2JTune Chevy Chase | A |
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There were five carlins in the south | B |
They fell upon a scheme | C |
To send a lad to London town | D |
To bring them tidings hame | C |
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Not only bring them tidings hame | C |
But do their errands there | E |
And aiblins gowd and honour baith | B |
Might be that laddie's share | E |
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There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith | B |
A dame wi' pride eneugh | F |
And Marjory o' the mony lochs | A |
A carlin auld and teugh | F |
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And blinkin' Bess of Annandale | G |
That dwelt near Solway side | H |
And whiskey Jean that took her gill | I |
In Galloway sae wide | H |
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And black Joan frae Crighton peel | J |
O' gipsey kith an' kin | K |
Five wighter carlins were na found | L |
The south countrie within | K |
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To send a lad to London town | D |
They met upon a day | M |
And mony a knight and mony a laird | N |
This errand fain wad gae | O |
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O mony a knight and mony a laird | N |
This errand fain wad gae | O |
But nae ane could their fancy please | A |
O ne'er a ane but twae | P |
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The first ane was a belted knight | Q |
Bred of a border band | R |
And he wad gae to London town | D |
Might nae man him withstand | R |
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And he wad do their errands weel | J |
And meikle he wad say | M |
And ilka ane about the court | S |
Wad bid to him gude day | M |
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The neist cam in a sodger youth | B |
And spak wi' modest grace | A |
And he wad gae to London town | D |
If sae their pleasure was | A |
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He wad na hecht them courtly gifts | A |
Nor meikle speech pretend | T |
But he wad hecht an honest heart | U |
Wad ne'er desert his friend | T |
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Then wham to chuse and wham refuse | A |
At strife thir carlins fell | J |
For some had gentlefolks to please | A |
And some wad please themsel' | J |
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Then out spak mim mou'd Meg o' Nith | B |
And she spak up wi' pride | H |
And she wad send the sodger youth | B |
Whatever might betide | H |
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For the auld gudeman o' London court | S |
She didna care a pin | K |
But she wad send the sodger youth | B |
To greet his eldest son | V |
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Then slow raise Marjory o' the Lochs | A |
And wrinkled was her brow | W |
Her ancient weed was russet gray | M |
Her auld Scotch heart was true | X |
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The London court set light by me | C |
I set as light by them | C |
And I wilt send the sodger lad | Y |
To shaw that court the same | C |
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Then up sprang Bess of Annandale | J |
And swore a deadly aith | B |
Says I will send the border knight | Q |
Spite o' you carlins baith | B |
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For far off fowls hae feathers fair | E |
And fools o' change are fain | Z |
But I hae try'd this border knight | Q |
I'll try him yet again | A2 |
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Then whiskey Jean spak o'er her drink | B2 |
Ye weel ken kimmersa' | A |
The auld gudeman o' London court | S |
His back's been at the wa' | P |
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And mony a friend that kiss'd his caup | C2 |
Is now a fremit wight | Q |
But it's ne'er be sae wi' whiskey Jean | D2 |
We'll send the border knight | Q |
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Says black Joan o' Crighton peel | J |
A carlin stoor and grim | C |
The auld gudeman or the young gudeman | D2 |
For me may sink or swim | C |
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For fools will prate o' right and wrang | B2 |
While knaves laugh in their sleeve | F |
But wha blaws best the horn shall win | D2 |
I'll spier nae courtier's leave | F |
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So how this mighty plea may end | T |
There's naebody can tell | J |
God grant the king and ilka man | D2 |
May look weel to himsel' | J |
Robert Burns
(1)
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