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	246            TONE-POETRY OF ROBERT BURNS No. 267. There was five carlins in the Soicth. Tune : Chevy chase M "Gibbon's Scots Tunes, 1768, iv. p. 108 (adapted).
	There was five carlins in the South, They fell upon a scheme To send a lad to London Town To bring them tidings hame : Not only bring them tidings hame, But do their errands there ; And aiblins gowd and honor baith Might be that laddie's share. There was Maggie by the banks o' Nith, A dame wi' pride eneugh; And Marjory o' the monie 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 Black Joan frae Crichton Peel, 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 monie a knight and monie a laird This errand fain wad gae. O, monie a knight and monie 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 ; 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 at London court Wad bid to him gude-day. Then neist cam in, a soger boy, And spak wi' modest grace ; And he wad gae to London Town, If sae their pleasure was. He wadna 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 Mego'Nith, And she spak up wi' pride, And she wad send the Soger lad, Whatever might betide. For the auld gudeman o' London court She didna care a pin ; But she wad send the Soger lad To greet his eldest son.