My Louis loved me oh so well br And spiered me for his wife; br He would have haled me from the hell br That was my bawdy life: br The mother of his bairns to be, br Daftlike he saw in me. br br But I, a hizzie of the town br Just telt him we must part; br Loving too well to drag him down br I tore him from my heart: br To save the honour of his name br I went back to my shame. br br They say he soared to starry fame, br Romance flowed from his pen; br A prince of poets he became, br Pride of his fellow men: br My breast was pillow for his head, br Yet naught of his I've read. br br Smoking my cutty pipe the while, br In howths of Leith I lag; br * My Louis lies in South Sea isle br As I a sodden hag br Live on . . . Oh Love, by men enskied br The day you went--I died. br br br *R.L.S.