by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758)
Widow, are ye waking?
Language: English
O wha's that at my chamber door? "Fair widow, are ye waking?" Auld carle, your suit give o'er, Your love lyes a' in tawking. Gi'e me a lad that's young and tight, Sweet like an April meadow; 'Tis sic as he can bless the sight And bosom of a widow. "O widow, wilt thou let me in? "I'm pawky3, wise, and thrifty; "And come of a right gentle kin, "I'm little mair than fifty." Daft carle, dit your mouth, What signifies, how pawky Or gentle born ye be -- but troth -- In love ye're but a gawky. "Then, widow, let those guineas speak, "That powerfully plead clinkan; "And if they fail, my mouth I'll steek, "And nae mair love will think on. " These court indeed, I maun confess, I think they mak you young, sir, And ten times better can express Affection, than your tongue, sir.
GLOSSARY
Auld carle = name for an old man
Thight = shapely, well-formed
Pawky = cunning
Dit = close, shut
Gawky = awkward, clumsy person
Clinkan = money, cash
Steek = close, shut
Maun = must
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Auld carle = name for an old man
Thight = shapely, well-formed
Pawky = cunning
Dit = close, shut
Gawky = awkward, clumsy person
Clinkan = money, cash
Steek = close, shut
Maun = must
Authorship:
- by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Widow, are ye waking?", JHW. XXXII/1 no. 75, Hob. XXXIa no. 75. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2012-08-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 146