Volume 5 — Gilderoys last Farewel. To a New Tune.

[Listen]

GIlderoy was a bonny Boy, Had Roses tull his shun, His Stockings were made of the finest Silk, His Garters hanging down: It was a comely sight to see, He was so trim a Boy; He was my Joy and Heart’s Delight, My Handsom Gilderoy. Oh sike a charming Eye he had, A Breath as sweet as a Rose, He never wore a Hiland plad, But costly silken Cloaths: He gain’d the Love of Ladies gay, There’s none to him was Coy; Ah, wa’s me, Ise mourn this Day, For my Dear Gilderoy. My Gilderoy and I was born, Both in one Town together; Not past Seven years of Age, Since one did Love each other: Our Daddies and our Mammies both, Were cloath’d with mickle Joy, To think upon the Bridal Day, Betwixt I and my Gilderoy. For Gilderoy, that Love of mine, Geud faith Ise freely bought: A Wedding-sark of Holland fine, With Silk in Flowers wrought: And he gave me a Wedding Ring, Which I receiv’d with Joy; No Lads or Lasses e’er could Sing, Like my sweet Gilderoy. In mickle Joy we spent our time, Till we was both Fifteen; Then gently he did lay me down, Amongst the leaves so green: When he had done what he could do, He rose and he gang’d his way; But ever since I lov’d the Man, My Handsome Gilderoy. While we did both together play, He kiss’d me o’er and o’er; Geud faith it was as blith a Day, As e’er I saw before: He fill’d my Heart in every Vein, With Love and mickle Joy; Who was my Love and Hearts delight, Mine own sweet Gilderoy. Oh never, never shall I see, The cause of past Delight; Or sike a lovely Lad as he, Transport my Ravish’d sight: The Law forbids what Love enjoyns, And does prevent our Joy; Though just and fair were the Designs, Of me and Gilderoy. ’Cause Gilderoy had done amiss, Must he be punish’d then; What kind of Cruelty is this To hang such Handsom Men? The Flower of the Scotish land, A sweet and lovely Boy; He likewise had a Lady’s Hand, My Handsom Gilderoy. At Leith they took my Gilderoy, And there God wot they bang’d him: Carry’d him to fair Edenburgh, And there God wot they hang’d him: They hang’d him up above the rest, He was so trim a Boy; My only Love and Heart’s Delight, My Handsom Gilderoy. Thus having yielded up his Breath, In Cypress he was laid; Then for my dearest, after Death, A Funeral I made: Over his Grave a Marble-stone, I fixed for my Joy; Now I am left to weep alone, For my dear Gilderoy.