possibly by Francis Sempill (1616 - 1682)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Maggie Lauder
Language: English 
Wha wadna be in love
Wi' bonie Maggy Lauder?
A piper met her gaun to Fife,
And spier'd what was't they ca'd her?
Right scornfully she answer'd him,
"Begone, you hallanshaker;
"Jogg on your gate, you bladderskate,
"My name is Maggy Lauder."
 
"Maggy," quo' he, "and by my bags,
"I'm fidging fain to see thee;
"Sit down by me, my bonie bird,
"In troth I winna steer thee:
"For I'm a piper to my trade,
"My name is Rob the Ranter;
"The lasses loup as they were daft
"When I blaw up my chanter."
 
"Piper," quo' Meg, "ha'e ye your bags,
"Or is your drone in order?
"If you be Rob, I've heard of you;
"Live you upo' the border?
"The lasses a', baith far and near
"Have heard of Rob the Ranter;
"I'll shake my foot wi' right good-will,
"Gif you'll blaw up your chanter."
 
Then to his bags he flew with speed,
About the drone he twisted;
Meg up, and wallop'd o'er the green,
For brawly could she frisk it.
"Weel done," quo' he "Play up," quo' she:
"Weel bobb'd," quo' Rob the Ranter;
"It's worth my while to play indeed,
"When I ha'e sic a dancer."
 
"Weel ha'e you play'd your part," quo' Meg,
"Your cheeks are like the crimson;
"There's nane in Scotland plays sae weel,
"Since we lost Habby Simson.
"I've liv'd in Fife, baith maid and wife,
"These ten years and a quarter;
"Gin you should come to Anst'er fair,
"Spier ye for Maggy Lauder."

Glossary

Spier'd = asked, enquired
Hallanshaker = ragamuffin
Jogg on your gate = get on your way
Bladderskate = foolish babbling fellow
Fidging = fidgeting
Steer = molest
Loup = leap, jump
Brawly = very well
Anst'er = Anstruther, a fishing village in Fife

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Joseph Haydn.

Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2009-08-12
Line count: 40
Word count: 251

Maggy Lauder
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Wer wäre nicht in sie verliebt,
der Maggy Lauder kennet?
Ein Pfeifer sprach am Weg sie an
Und fragt, wie sie sich nennet?
Doch zornig gab sie Antwort ihm,
Daß er es wagt zu fragen,
"Fort", rief sie,"Maggy Lauder hat
Dir Lumpen nichts zu sagen!"

"Ho", rief er,"Maggy! nun fürwahr,
Mich freut es, dich zu sehen;
Sitz her zu mir, mein Vögelchen,
Es soll dir nichts geschehen.
Denn Pfeifer bin ich von Geschäft,
Man nennt mich Rob van Reelen;
Die Mädchen sind vor Freude toll,
Wenn ich beginn zu spielen."

Meg sprach zu ihm:"Und du bist Rob,
So lass' ich mir's gefallen;
Denn oft schon bist du mir genannt
Mit großem Lob von allen.
Ist deine Sackpfeif' denn im Stand,
Daß ich dich kennen lerne,
So bring' sie her, zu deinem Spiel
Rühr meinen Fuß ich gerne."

Rob holt die Säcke schnell herbei
Und Meg springt auf den Rasen.
"Hei!", ruft er,"solcher Tänzerin
Will ich mit Freuden blasen!"
Er spielt, sie tanzt mit voller Lust,
Und als er war zu Ende,
Da reichten sie auf Wiedersehn
Sich freundschaftlich die Hände.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Researcher for this page: Auditorium du Louvre

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 180