[
  {
    "title": "296. The Five Carlins: An Election Ballad",
    "author": "Robert Burns",
    "lines": [
      "THERE was five Carlins in the South,",
      "  They fell upon a scheme,",
      "To send a lad to London town,",
      "  To bring them tidings hame.",
      "",
      "",
      "Nor only bring them tidings hame,",
      "  But do their errands there,",
      "And aiblins gowd and honor baith",
      "  Might be that laddie’s share.",
      "",
      "",
      "There was Maggy by the banks o’ Nith,",
      "  A dame wi’ pride eneugh;",
      "And Marjory o’ the mony Lochs,",
      "  A Carlin auld and teugh.",
      "",
      "",
      "And blinkin Bess of Annandale,",
      "  That dwelt near Solway-side;",
      "And whisky Jean, that took her gill,",
      "  In Galloway sae wide.",
      "",
      "",
      "And auld black Joan frae Crichton Peel, 1",
      "  O’ gipsy kith an’ kin;",
      "Five wighter Carlins were na found",
      "  The South countrie within.",
      "",
      "",
      "To send a lad to London town,",
      "  They met upon a day;",
      "And mony a knight, and mony a laird,",
      "  This errand fain wad gae.",
      "",
      "",
      "O mony a knight, and mony a laird,",
      "  This errand fain wad gae;",
      "But nae ane could their fancy please,",
      "  O ne’er a ane but twae.",
      "",
      "",
      "The first ane was a belted Knight,",
      "  Bred of a Border band; 2",
      "And he wad gae to London town,",
      "  Might nae man him withstand.",
      "",
      "",
      "And he wad do their errands weel,",
      "  And meikle he wad say;",
      "And ilka ane about the court",
      "  Wad bid to him gude-day.",
      "",
      "",
      "The neist cam in a Soger youth, 3",
      "  Who spak wi’ modest grace,",
      "And he wad gae to London town,",
      "  If sae their pleasure was.",
      "",
      "",
      "He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,",
      "  Nor meikle speech pretend;",
      "But he wad hecht an honest heart,",
      "  Wad ne’er desert his friend.",
      "",
      "",
      "Now, wham to chuse, and wham refuse,",
      "  At strife thir Carlins fell;",
      "For some had Gentlefolks to please,",
      "  And some wad please themsel’.",
      "",
      "",
      "Then out spak mim-mou’d Meg o’ Nith,",
      "  And she spak up wi’ pride,",
      "And she wad send the Soger youth,",
      "  Whatever might betide.",
      "",
      "",
      "For the auld Gudeman o’ London court 4",
      "  She didna care a pin;",
      "But she wad send the Soger youth,",
      "  To greet his eldest son. 5",
      "",
      "",
      "Then up sprang Bess o’ Annandale,",
      "  And a deadly aith she’s ta’en,",
      "That she wad vote the Border Knight,",
      "  Though she should vote her lane.",
      "",
      "",
      "“For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,",
      "  And fools o’ change are fain;",
      "But I hae tried the Border Knight,",
      "  And I’ll try him yet again.”",
      "",
      "",
      "Says black Joan frae Crichton Peel,",
      "  A Carlin stoor and grim.",
      "“The auld Gudeman or young Gudeman,",
      "  For me may sink or swim;",
      "",
      "",
      "For fools will prate o’ right or wrang,",
      "  While knaves laugh them to scorn;",
      "But the Soger’s friends hae blawn the best,",
      "  So he shall bear the horn.”",
      "",
      "",
      "Then whisky Jean spak owre her drink,",
      "  “Ye weel ken, kimmers a’,",
      "The auld gudeman o’ London court,",
      "  His back’s been at the wa’;",
      "",
      "",
      "“And mony a friend that kiss’d his caup",
      "  Is now a fremit wight;",
      "But it’s ne’er be said o’ whisky Jean—",
      "  We’ll send the Border Knight.”",
      "",
      "",
      "Then slow raise Marjory o’ the Lochs,",
      "  And wrinkled was her brow,",
      "Her ancient weed was russet gray,",
      "  Her auld Scots bluid was true;",
      "",
      "",
      "“There’s some great folk set light by me,",
      "  I set as light by them;",
      "But I will send to London town",
      "  Wham I like best at hame.”",
      "",
      "",
      "Sae how this mighty plea may end,",
      "  Nae mortal wight can tell;",
      "God grant the King and ilka man",
      "  May look weel to himsel.",
      "",
      "",
      " Note 1. Sanquhar. [back]",
      "Note 2. Sir James Johnston of Westerhall. [back]",
      "Note 3. Captain Patrick Millar of Dalswinton. [back]",
      "Note 4. The King. [back]",
      "Note 5. The Prince of Wales. [back]"
    ],
    "linecount": "97"
  }
]