# Ladies breastknot/The Ladies Breastknot

The LADIES BREASTKNOT.
THERE was a bridal in this town, And till't the laſſes a' was houn', With mankie facings on their gown, And ſome of them had breaſt-knots.
chorus.
O the bonny, O the bonny, O the bonny breaſt-knots, Tight and bonny were they a' When they got on their breaſt-knots.
And there was mony luſty lad, As ever handled grape and gaud, I wat their manhood well they ſhaw'd, At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.
At nine o'clock they did conveen, Some clad in blue, ſome clad in green, Wi' glancing buckles in their ſheen, And flowers upon their waiſtcoat. O, &c.
The bride by this time was right fain, When that ſhe ſaw fae light a train, She pray'd the day might keep frae rain. For Spoiling of their breaſt-knots. O, &c.
Forth came the wives a' wi' a phraſe, and wiſh'd the laſſie happy days, And muckle made they of her claiths, And ſpecially the breaſt-knot, O, &c.
​Forth ſpake her mither, fan ſhe ſaw, The bride and maidens a' fae bra', Wi' cackling clouts, black be their fa', They made a bonny feaſt o't. O, &c.
Next down their breakfaſt it was ſet, Some barley kippies of milk meat, It leiped them it was fae bet. As ſoon as they did taſte o't. O, &c.
Till ſome frae them their ſpoon they threw, And ſwore that they had burnt their mu', And ſome into their cutty blew, I wat their will they miſt not. O, &c.
When ilka ane had claw'd his plate, The piper lad he looked blate, Altho' they ſaid that he ſhould eat, I trow he loſt the beſt o't. O, &c.
Syne forth they got a' wi'a loup, O'er creels and deals and a' did coup, The piper ſaid, Wi' them d—l ſcoup, He'd made a hungry feaſt o't. O, &c.
Syne off they got a' wi' fling, Each laſs unto her lad did hing, And a' cry'd for a different ſpring, The bride ſhe fought the breaſt-knot. &c.
Fan they ty'd up the marriage band, At the bridegroon's they neiſt did land, Forth came auld Madge wi' her ſplit maund, And bread and cheeſe a hiſt o't. O, &c.
​She took a quarter and a third, On the bride's head he gea't a gird, Till farls flew athort the card, and parted round the reſt o't. O, &c.
The laſs that by the hand he took, Twice, thrice they led her round the crook, Same ſaid, "Goodwife, well mat ye brook, And ſome great count they caſt not. &c.
All ran to kilns and barns in ranks, Some ſat on deals, and ſome on planks, The piper lad ſtood on his ſhanks, And dirled up the breaſt-knot. O, &c.
When bride and bridegroom went to bed, They with a towel ty'd up his head; And he that loved the couple beſt, He wiſhed the bride the ratton's reſt. &c.
Our groom he was ſo keen and ſtout, That he dang the bed bottom out. The reſt at that they gave a ſhout, At ruflling of the breaſt-knot. O. &c.
Altho' our bride had nought to ſpare, I trow ſome maids they got a ſhare, A wedding night juſt like a fair, at ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.
O! how they a' did kiſs and ſmack, Some maidenheads they got a crack, I trow our young men were not ſlack, At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.
​Eight laſſes at the wedding was, That all for maidens they did paſs, But ſome I trow they ſup the ſauce, At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.
Their modeſty did them beguile. For five of eight was got with child, I think our maids is all run wild, At dancing of the breaſt-knot O, &c.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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