FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[249]carline = old woman.[250]fashes = troubles.[251]syke = marsh.[252]sheugh = trench.[253]channerin’ = fretting.

[249]carline = old woman.

[250]fashes = troubles.

[251]syke = marsh.

[252]sheugh = trench.

[253]channerin’ = fretting.

IThis ae nighte, this ae nighte,—Every nighte and alle,Fire and fleet[254]and candle-lighte,And Christe receive thy saule.IIWhen thou from hence away art past,—Every nighte and alle,To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last:And Christe receive thy saule.IIIIf ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,—Every nighte and alle,Sit thee down and put them on:And Christe receive thy saule.IVIf hosen and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane—Every nighte and alle,The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;And Christe receive thy saule.VFrom whinny-muir when thou may’st pass,—Every nighte and alle,To Brig o’ Dread thou com’st at last;And Christe receive thy saule.VIFrom Brig o’ Dread when thou may’st pass,—Every nighte and alle,To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last;And Christe receive thy saule.VIIIf ever thou gavest meat or drink,—Every nighte and alle,The fire sall never make thee shrink;And Christe receive thy saule.VIIIIf meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane,—Every nighte and alle,The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;And Christe receive thy saule.IXThis ae nighte, this ae nighte,—Every nighte and alle,Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,—Every nighte and alle,Fire and fleet[254]and candle-lighte,And Christe receive thy saule.

When thou from hence away art past,—Every nighte and alle,To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last:And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,—Every nighte and alle,Sit thee down and put them on:And Christe receive thy saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane—Every nighte and alle,The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;And Christe receive thy saule.

From whinny-muir when thou may’st pass,—Every nighte and alle,To Brig o’ Dread thou com’st at last;And Christe receive thy saule.

From Brig o’ Dread when thou may’st pass,—Every nighte and alle,To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last;And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,—Every nighte and alle,The fire sall never make thee shrink;And Christe receive thy saule.

If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane,—Every nighte and alle,The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,—Every nighte and alle,Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,And Christe receive thy saule.

FOOTNOTES:[254]fleet = floor.Other readings are‘sleet’and‘salt’.

[254]fleet = floor.Other readings are‘sleet’and‘salt’.

I‘The wind doth blow to-day, my love,And a few small drops of rain;I never had but one true-love;In cold grave she was lain.II‘I’ll do as much for my true-loveAs any young man may;I’ll sit and mourn all at her graveFor a twelvemonth and a day.’IIIThe twelvemonth and a day being up,The dead began to speak:‘Oh who sits weeping on my grave,And will not let me sleep?’—IV‘’Tis I, my love, sits on your grave,And will not let you sleep;For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips,And that is all I seek.’—V‘You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips;But my breath smells earthy strong;If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips,Your time will not be long.VI‘’Tis down in yonder garden green,Love, where we used to walk,The finest flower that ere was seenIs wither’d to a stalk.VII‘The stalk is wither’d dry, my love,So will our hearts decay;So make yourself content, my love,Till God calls you away.’

‘The wind doth blow to-day, my love,And a few small drops of rain;I never had but one true-love;In cold grave she was lain.

‘I’ll do as much for my true-loveAs any young man may;I’ll sit and mourn all at her graveFor a twelvemonth and a day.’

The twelvemonth and a day being up,The dead began to speak:‘Oh who sits weeping on my grave,And will not let me sleep?’—

‘’Tis I, my love, sits on your grave,And will not let you sleep;For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips,And that is all I seek.’—

‘You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips;But my breath smells earthy strong;If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips,Your time will not be long.

‘’Tis down in yonder garden green,Love, where we used to walk,The finest flower that ere was seenIs wither’d to a stalk.

‘The stalk is wither’d dry, my love,So will our hearts decay;So make yourself content, my love,Till God calls you away.’

IHynd Horn’s bound, love, and Hynd Horn’s free,With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;Where was ye born, or in what countrie?And the birk and the broom blows bonnie.II‘In good greenwood, there I was born,And all my forbears me beforn.III‘O seven long years I served the King,And as for wages I never gat nane;IV‘But ae sight o’ his ae daughter.And that was thro’ an auger-bore.’VSeven long years he served the King,And it’s a’ for the sake of his daughter Jean.VIThe King an angry man was he;He sent young Hynd Horn to the sea.VIIHe’s gi’en his luve a silver wandWi’ seven silver laverocks[255]sittin’ thereon.VIIIShe’s gi’en to him a gay gold ringWi’ seven bright diamonds set therein.IX‘As lang’s these diamonds keep their hue,Ye’ll know I am a lover true:X‘But when the ring turns pale and wan,Ye may ken that I love anither man.’XIHe hoist up sails and awa’ sail’d heTill that he came to a foreign countrie.XIIOne day as he look’d his ring upon,He saw the diamonds pale and wan.XIIIHe’s left the seas and he’s come to the land,And the first that he met was an auld beggar man.XIV‘What news, what news? thou auld beggar man,For it’s seven years sin I’ve seen land.’XV‘No news,’ said the beggar, ‘no news at a’,But there is a wedding in the King’s ha’.XVI‘But there is a wedding in the King’s ha’That has halden these forty days and twa.’XVII‘Cast off, cast off thy auld beggar weed[256],And I’ll gi’e thee my gude grey steed:XVIII‘And lend to me your wig o’ hairTo cover mine, because it is fair.’—XIX‘My begging weed is na for thee,Your riding steed is na for me.’XXBut part by right and part by wrangHynd Horn has changed wi’ the beggar man.XXIThe auld beggar man was bound for to ride,But young Hynd Horn was bound for the bride.XXIIWhen he came to the King’s gate,He sought a drink for Hynd Horn’s sake.XXIIIThe bride came trippin’ down the stair,Wi’ the scales o’ red gowd in her hair;XXIVWi’ a cup o’ the red wine in her hand,And that she gae to the auld beggar man.XXVOut o’ the cup he drank the wine,And into the cup he dropt the ring.XXVI‘O got ye this by sea or land?Or got ye it of a dead man’s hand?’—XXVII‘I got it na by sea nor land,But I got it, madam, of your own hand.’XXVIII‘O, I’ll cast off my gowns o’ brown,And beg with you frae town to town.XXIX‘O, I’ll cast off my gowns o’ red,And I’ll beg wi’ you to win my bread.XXX‘O I’ll take the scales o’ gowd frae my hair,And I’ll follow you for evermair.’XXXIShe has cast awa’ the brown and the red,And she’s follow’d him to beg her bread.XXXIIShe has ta’en the scales o’ gowd frae her hairAnd she’s follow’d him for evermair.XXXIIIBut atween the kitchen and the ha’He has let his cloutie[257]cloak down fa’.XXXIVAnd the red gowd shinèd over him a’,With a hey lillelu, and a how lo lan;And the bride frae the bridegroom was stown[258]awa’,And the birk and the broom blows bonnie.

Hynd Horn’s bound, love, and Hynd Horn’s free,With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;Where was ye born, or in what countrie?And the birk and the broom blows bonnie.

‘In good greenwood, there I was born,And all my forbears me beforn.

‘O seven long years I served the King,And as for wages I never gat nane;

‘But ae sight o’ his ae daughter.And that was thro’ an auger-bore.’

Seven long years he served the King,And it’s a’ for the sake of his daughter Jean.

The King an angry man was he;He sent young Hynd Horn to the sea.

He’s gi’en his luve a silver wandWi’ seven silver laverocks[255]sittin’ thereon.

She’s gi’en to him a gay gold ringWi’ seven bright diamonds set therein.

‘As lang’s these diamonds keep their hue,Ye’ll know I am a lover true:

‘But when the ring turns pale and wan,Ye may ken that I love anither man.’

He hoist up sails and awa’ sail’d heTill that he came to a foreign countrie.

One day as he look’d his ring upon,He saw the diamonds pale and wan.

He’s left the seas and he’s come to the land,And the first that he met was an auld beggar man.

‘What news, what news? thou auld beggar man,For it’s seven years sin I’ve seen land.’

‘No news,’ said the beggar, ‘no news at a’,But there is a wedding in the King’s ha’.

‘But there is a wedding in the King’s ha’That has halden these forty days and twa.’

‘Cast off, cast off thy auld beggar weed[256],And I’ll gi’e thee my gude grey steed:

‘And lend to me your wig o’ hairTo cover mine, because it is fair.’—

‘My begging weed is na for thee,Your riding steed is na for me.’

But part by right and part by wrangHynd Horn has changed wi’ the beggar man.

The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,But young Hynd Horn was bound for the bride.

When he came to the King’s gate,He sought a drink for Hynd Horn’s sake.

The bride came trippin’ down the stair,Wi’ the scales o’ red gowd in her hair;

Wi’ a cup o’ the red wine in her hand,And that she gae to the auld beggar man.

Out o’ the cup he drank the wine,And into the cup he dropt the ring.

‘O got ye this by sea or land?Or got ye it of a dead man’s hand?’—

‘I got it na by sea nor land,But I got it, madam, of your own hand.’

‘O, I’ll cast off my gowns o’ brown,And beg with you frae town to town.

‘O, I’ll cast off my gowns o’ red,And I’ll beg wi’ you to win my bread.

‘O I’ll take the scales o’ gowd frae my hair,And I’ll follow you for evermair.’

She has cast awa’ the brown and the red,And she’s follow’d him to beg her bread.

She has ta’en the scales o’ gowd frae her hairAnd she’s follow’d him for evermair.

But atween the kitchen and the ha’He has let his cloutie[257]cloak down fa’.

And the red gowd shinèd over him a’,With a hey lillelu, and a how lo lan;And the bride frae the bridegroom was stown[258]awa’,And the birk and the broom blows bonnie.

FOOTNOTES:[255]laverocks = larks.[256]weed = clothes.[257]cloutie = full of clouts, patched.[258]stown = stolen.

[255]laverocks = larks.

[256]weed = clothes.

[257]cloutie = full of clouts, patched.

[258]stown = stolen.

IMay Margaret sits in her bower doorSewing her silken seam;She heard a note in Elmond’s wood,And wish’d she there had been.IIShe loot[259]the seam fa’ frae her side,The needle to her tae[260],And she is on to Elmond’s woodAs fast as she could gae.IIIShe hadna pu’d a nut, a nut,Nor broken a branch but ane,Till by there came the Hynd Etin,Says, ‘Lady, lat alane.IV‘O why pu’ ye the nut, the nut,Or why break ye the tree?For I am forester o’ this wood:Ye should spier[261]leave at me.’—V‘I’ll ask leave at nae living man,Nor yet will I at thee;My father is king o’er a’ this realm,This wood belongs to me.’VIThe highest tree in Elmond’s wood,He’s pu’d it by the reet[262],And he has built for her a bowerNear by a hallow seat[263].VIIHe’s kept her there in Elmond’s woodFor six lang years and ane,Till six pretty sons to him she bare,And the seventh she’s brought hame.VIIIIt fell out ance upon a dayHe’s to the hunting gane,And a’ to carry his game for himHe’s tane his eldest son.IX‘A question I will ask, father,Gin ye wadna angry be.’—‘Say on, say on, my bonny boy,Ye’se nae be quarrell’d by me.’X‘I see my mither’s cheeks aye weet,I never can see them dry;And I wonder what aileth my mitherTo mourn [sae constantly].’—XI‘Your mither was a king’s daughtèr,Sprung frae a high degree;She might hae wed some worthy princeHad she na been stown[264]by me.XII‘Your mither was a king’s daughtèrOf noble birth and fame,But now she’s wife o’ Hynd Etin,Wha ne’er gat christendame.XIII‘But we’ll shoot the buntin’ o’ the bush,The linnet o’ the tree,And ye’se tak’ them hame to your dear mither,See if she’ll merrier be.’XIVIt fell upon anither day,He’s to the hunting ganeAnd left his seven [young] childrenTo stay wi’ their mither at hame.XV‘O I will tell to you, mither,Gin ye wadna angry be.’—‘Speak on, speak on, my little wee boy,Ye’se nae be quarrell’d by me.’—XVI‘As we came frae the hind-hunting,We heard fine music ring.’—‘My blessings on you, my bonny boy,I wish I’d been there my lane.’XVIIThey wistna weel where they were gaen,Wi’ the stratlins[265]o’ their feet;They wistna weel where they were gaen,Till at her father’s yate[266].XVIII‘I hae nae money in my pocket,But royal rings hae three;I’ll gie them you, my little young son,And ye’ll walk there for me.XIX‘Ye’ll gi’e the first to the proud portèrAnd he will let you in;Ye’ll gi’e the next to the butler-boyAnd he will show you ben[267];XX‘Ye’ll gi’e the third to the minstrelThat plays before the King;He’ll play success to the bonny boyCame thro’ the wood him lane.’XXIHe ga’e the first to the proud portèrAnd he open’d and let him in;He ga’e the next to the butler-boy,And he has shown him ben.XXIIHe ga’e the third to the minstrelThat play’d before the King,And he play’d success to the bonny boyCame thro’ the wood him lane.XXIIINow when he came before the King,Fell low upon his knee;The King he turn’d him round about,And the saut tear blint[268]his e’e.XXIV‘Win up, win up, my bonny boy,Gang frae my companie;Ye look sae like my dear daughtèr,My heart will burst in three.’—XXV‘If I look like your dear daughtèr,A wonder it is none;If I look like your dear daughtèr,I am her eldest son.’—XXVI‘Will ye tell me, ye little wee boy,Where may my Margaret be?’—‘She’s just now standing at your yates,And my six brithers her wi’.’—XXVII‘O where are a’ my porter-boysThat I pay meat and fee,To open my yates baith wide and braid,Let her come in to me?’XXVIIIWhen she cam’ in before the King,Fell low down on her knee:‘Win up, win up, my daughter dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—XXIX‘Ae bit I canna eat, father,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my mither dear,For lang for her I think.’XXXWhen she cam’ in before the queen,Fell low down on her knee;‘Win up, win up, my daughter dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—XXXI‘Ae bit I canna eat, mither,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my sister dear,For lang for her I think.’XXXIIWhen that these twa sisters met,She hail’d her courteouslie;‘Come ben, come ben, my sister dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—XXXIII‘Ae bit I canna eat, sister,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my dear husband,So lang for him I think.’—XXXIV‘O where are a’ my rangers boldThat I pay meat and fee,To search the forest far an’ wide,And bring Etin back to me?’XXXVOut it speaks the little wee boy:‘Na, na, this mauna be;Without ye grant a free pardon,I hope ye’ll nae him see.’—XXXVI‘O here I grant a free pardon,Well seal’d by my own han’;Ye may mak’ search for Young EtinAs soon as ever ye can.’XXXVIIThey search’d the country wide and braid,The forests far and near,And they found him into Elmond’s wood,Tearing his yellow hair.XXXVIII‘Win up, win up now, Hynd Etin,Win up an’ boun[269]wi’ me;We’re messengers come frae the court;The King wants you to see.’—XXXIX‘O lat them tak’ frae me my head,Or hang me on a tree;For since I’ve lost my dear lady,Life’s no pleasure to me.’—XL‘Your head will na be touch’d, Etin,Nor you hang’d on a tree;Your lady’s in her father’s courtAnd a’ he wants is thee.’XLIWhen he cam’ in before the King,Fell low down on his knee;‘Win up, win up now, Young Etin,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’XLIIBut as they were at dinner setThe wee boy ask’d a boon:‘I wish we were in a good kirkFor to get christendoun.XLIII‘For we hae lived in gude green woodThis seven years and ane;But a’ this time since e’er I mindWas never a kirk within.’—XLIV‘Your asking’s na sae great, my boy,But granted it sall be;This day to gude kirk ye sall gangAnd your mither sall gang you wi’.’XLVWhen unto the gude kirk she came,She at the door did stan’;She was sae sair sunk down wi’ shame,She couldna come farther ben.XLVIThen out and spak’ the parish priest,And a sweet smile ga’e he:‘Come ben, come ben, my lily-flower,Present your babes to me.’XLVIICharles, Vincent, Sam and Dick,And likewise John and James;They call’d the eldest Young Etin,Which was his father’s name.

May Margaret sits in her bower doorSewing her silken seam;She heard a note in Elmond’s wood,And wish’d she there had been.

She loot[259]the seam fa’ frae her side,The needle to her tae[260],And she is on to Elmond’s woodAs fast as she could gae.

She hadna pu’d a nut, a nut,Nor broken a branch but ane,Till by there came the Hynd Etin,Says, ‘Lady, lat alane.

‘O why pu’ ye the nut, the nut,Or why break ye the tree?For I am forester o’ this wood:Ye should spier[261]leave at me.’—

‘I’ll ask leave at nae living man,Nor yet will I at thee;My father is king o’er a’ this realm,This wood belongs to me.’

The highest tree in Elmond’s wood,He’s pu’d it by the reet[262],And he has built for her a bowerNear by a hallow seat[263].

He’s kept her there in Elmond’s woodFor six lang years and ane,Till six pretty sons to him she bare,And the seventh she’s brought hame.

It fell out ance upon a dayHe’s to the hunting gane,And a’ to carry his game for himHe’s tane his eldest son.

‘A question I will ask, father,Gin ye wadna angry be.’—‘Say on, say on, my bonny boy,Ye’se nae be quarrell’d by me.’

‘I see my mither’s cheeks aye weet,I never can see them dry;And I wonder what aileth my mitherTo mourn [sae constantly].’—

‘Your mither was a king’s daughtèr,Sprung frae a high degree;She might hae wed some worthy princeHad she na been stown[264]by me.

‘Your mither was a king’s daughtèrOf noble birth and fame,But now she’s wife o’ Hynd Etin,Wha ne’er gat christendame.

‘But we’ll shoot the buntin’ o’ the bush,The linnet o’ the tree,And ye’se tak’ them hame to your dear mither,See if she’ll merrier be.’

It fell upon anither day,He’s to the hunting ganeAnd left his seven [young] childrenTo stay wi’ their mither at hame.

‘O I will tell to you, mither,Gin ye wadna angry be.’—‘Speak on, speak on, my little wee boy,Ye’se nae be quarrell’d by me.’—

‘As we came frae the hind-hunting,We heard fine music ring.’—‘My blessings on you, my bonny boy,I wish I’d been there my lane.’

They wistna weel where they were gaen,Wi’ the stratlins[265]o’ their feet;They wistna weel where they were gaen,Till at her father’s yate[266].

‘I hae nae money in my pocket,But royal rings hae three;I’ll gie them you, my little young son,And ye’ll walk there for me.

‘Ye’ll gi’e the first to the proud portèrAnd he will let you in;Ye’ll gi’e the next to the butler-boyAnd he will show you ben[267];

‘Ye’ll gi’e the third to the minstrelThat plays before the King;He’ll play success to the bonny boyCame thro’ the wood him lane.’

He ga’e the first to the proud portèrAnd he open’d and let him in;He ga’e the next to the butler-boy,And he has shown him ben.

He ga’e the third to the minstrelThat play’d before the King,And he play’d success to the bonny boyCame thro’ the wood him lane.

Now when he came before the King,Fell low upon his knee;The King he turn’d him round about,And the saut tear blint[268]his e’e.

‘Win up, win up, my bonny boy,Gang frae my companie;Ye look sae like my dear daughtèr,My heart will burst in three.’—

‘If I look like your dear daughtèr,A wonder it is none;If I look like your dear daughtèr,I am her eldest son.’—

‘Will ye tell me, ye little wee boy,Where may my Margaret be?’—‘She’s just now standing at your yates,And my six brithers her wi’.’—

‘O where are a’ my porter-boysThat I pay meat and fee,To open my yates baith wide and braid,Let her come in to me?’

When she cam’ in before the King,Fell low down on her knee:‘Win up, win up, my daughter dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—

‘Ae bit I canna eat, father,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my mither dear,For lang for her I think.’

When she cam’ in before the queen,Fell low down on her knee;‘Win up, win up, my daughter dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—

‘Ae bit I canna eat, mither,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my sister dear,For lang for her I think.’

When that these twa sisters met,She hail’d her courteouslie;‘Come ben, come ben, my sister dear,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’—

‘Ae bit I canna eat, sister,Nor ae drop can I drink,Until I see my dear husband,So lang for him I think.’—

‘O where are a’ my rangers boldThat I pay meat and fee,To search the forest far an’ wide,And bring Etin back to me?’

Out it speaks the little wee boy:‘Na, na, this mauna be;Without ye grant a free pardon,I hope ye’ll nae him see.’—

‘O here I grant a free pardon,Well seal’d by my own han’;Ye may mak’ search for Young EtinAs soon as ever ye can.’

They search’d the country wide and braid,The forests far and near,And they found him into Elmond’s wood,Tearing his yellow hair.

‘Win up, win up now, Hynd Etin,Win up an’ boun[269]wi’ me;We’re messengers come frae the court;The King wants you to see.’—

‘O lat them tak’ frae me my head,Or hang me on a tree;For since I’ve lost my dear lady,Life’s no pleasure to me.’—

‘Your head will na be touch’d, Etin,Nor you hang’d on a tree;Your lady’s in her father’s courtAnd a’ he wants is thee.’

When he cam’ in before the King,Fell low down on his knee;‘Win up, win up now, Young Etin,This day ye’se dine wi’ me.’

But as they were at dinner setThe wee boy ask’d a boon:‘I wish we were in a good kirkFor to get christendoun.

‘For we hae lived in gude green woodThis seven years and ane;But a’ this time since e’er I mindWas never a kirk within.’—

‘Your asking’s na sae great, my boy,But granted it sall be;This day to gude kirk ye sall gangAnd your mither sall gang you wi’.’

When unto the gude kirk she came,She at the door did stan’;She was sae sair sunk down wi’ shame,She couldna come farther ben.

Then out and spak’ the parish priest,And a sweet smile ga’e he:‘Come ben, come ben, my lily-flower,Present your babes to me.’

Charles, Vincent, Sam and Dick,And likewise John and James;They call’d the eldest Young Etin,Which was his father’s name.

FOOTNOTES:[259]loot = let.[260]tae = toe.[261]spier = ask.[262]reet = root.[263]hallow seat = holy man’s or hermit’s cave.[264]stown = stolen.[265]stratlins =? stragglings.[266]yate = gate.[267]ben = further in.[268]blint = blinded.[269]boun = go.

[259]loot = let.

[260]tae = toe.

[261]spier = ask.

[262]reet = root.

[263]hallow seat = holy man’s or hermit’s cave.

[264]stown = stolen.

[265]stratlins =? stragglings.

[266]yate = gate.

[267]ben = further in.

[268]blint = blinded.

[269]boun = go.

IErlinton had a fair daughter;I wat he wear’d her in[270]a great sin;For he has built a bigly bower,And a’ to put that lady in.IIAn’ he has warn’d her sisters six,An’ sae has he her brethren se’en,Outher to watch her a’ the night,Or else to seek her morn an’ e’en.IIIShe hadna been i’ that bigly bower,Na not a night but barely ane,Till there was Willie, her ain true love,Chapp’d[271]at the door, cryin’ ‘Peace within!’IV‘O whae is this at my bower door,That chaps sae late, nor kens the gin[272]?’—‘O it is Willie, your ain true love,I pray you rise an’ let me in.’—V‘For a’ sae weel as I like ye, Willie,For a’ sae weel as I ken the gin,I wadna for ten thousand pounds, love,Na, no this night wad I let ye in.VI‘But in the green-wood is a wake[273],And at the wake there is a wane[274],An’ there I’ll come as sune the morn, love,Na, no a mile but barely ane.VII‘On my right hand I’ll have a glo’[275], love,And on my left hand I’ll have nane;I’ll have wi’ me my sisters six, love,And we will wauk the wood our lane[276].’VIIIThen she’s gane to her bed again,She has layen till the cock crew thrice,An’ then she said to her sisters a’,‘Maidens, ’tis time for us to rise.’IXShe pat on her back her silken gown,An’ on her breast a siller pin,An’ she’s ta’en her sisters by the hand,An’ to the green-wood she is gane.XThey hadna wauk’d in the bonny green-wood,Na no an hour but barely ane,Till up start Willie, her ain true love,Wha frae her sisters has her ta’en.XIAn’ he has kiss’d her sisters six,An’ he has sent them hame again,But he has keepit his ain true love,Sayin’ ‘We’ll wauk the woods our lane.’XIIThey hadna wauk’d in the bonnie green-woodNa no an hour but barely ane,Till up start fifteen o’ the bravest outlawsThat ever bare either blood or bane.XIIIThen up bespake the foremost knight,—An’ O but he spake angrilỳ:Says, ‘Yield to me thy ladye bright,This night shall wauk the woods wi’ me.’—XIV‘I like her weel, my ladye bright,And O my life but it lies me near!But before I lose my ladye brightI’ll rather lose my life sae dear.’XVBut up an’ spake the second knight—I wat he spake right boustruslie—Says, ‘Baith your life an’ your ladye brightThis night shall wauk the woods wi’ me.’—XVI‘My ladye is my warldis meed[277]:My life I winna yield to nane;But if ye be men of your manheid,Ye’ll only fight me ane by ane.—XVII‘O sit ye down, my dearest dear,Sit down an’ hold my milk-white steed,An’ see that ye dinna change your cheerUntil ye see my body bleed.’XVIIIHe set his back unto an aik[278],He set his feet against a stane,He’s feightin a’ these fifteen outlaws,An’ kill’d them a’ but barely ane.XIXAn’ he has gane to his ladye dear,I wat he kiss’d her cheek an’ chin—‘Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear,An’ now we will wauk the woods our lane.’

Erlinton had a fair daughter;I wat he wear’d her in[270]a great sin;For he has built a bigly bower,And a’ to put that lady in.

An’ he has warn’d her sisters six,An’ sae has he her brethren se’en,Outher to watch her a’ the night,Or else to seek her morn an’ e’en.

She hadna been i’ that bigly bower,Na not a night but barely ane,Till there was Willie, her ain true love,Chapp’d[271]at the door, cryin’ ‘Peace within!’

‘O whae is this at my bower door,That chaps sae late, nor kens the gin[272]?’—‘O it is Willie, your ain true love,I pray you rise an’ let me in.’—

‘For a’ sae weel as I like ye, Willie,For a’ sae weel as I ken the gin,I wadna for ten thousand pounds, love,Na, no this night wad I let ye in.

‘But in the green-wood is a wake[273],And at the wake there is a wane[274],An’ there I’ll come as sune the morn, love,Na, no a mile but barely ane.

‘On my right hand I’ll have a glo’[275], love,And on my left hand I’ll have nane;I’ll have wi’ me my sisters six, love,And we will wauk the wood our lane[276].’

Then she’s gane to her bed again,She has layen till the cock crew thrice,An’ then she said to her sisters a’,‘Maidens, ’tis time for us to rise.’

She pat on her back her silken gown,An’ on her breast a siller pin,An’ she’s ta’en her sisters by the hand,An’ to the green-wood she is gane.

They hadna wauk’d in the bonny green-wood,Na no an hour but barely ane,Till up start Willie, her ain true love,Wha frae her sisters has her ta’en.

An’ he has kiss’d her sisters six,An’ he has sent them hame again,But he has keepit his ain true love,Sayin’ ‘We’ll wauk the woods our lane.’

They hadna wauk’d in the bonnie green-woodNa no an hour but barely ane,Till up start fifteen o’ the bravest outlawsThat ever bare either blood or bane.

Then up bespake the foremost knight,—An’ O but he spake angrilỳ:Says, ‘Yield to me thy ladye bright,This night shall wauk the woods wi’ me.’—

‘I like her weel, my ladye bright,And O my life but it lies me near!But before I lose my ladye brightI’ll rather lose my life sae dear.’

But up an’ spake the second knight—I wat he spake right boustruslie—Says, ‘Baith your life an’ your ladye brightThis night shall wauk the woods wi’ me.’—

‘My ladye is my warldis meed[277]:My life I winna yield to nane;But if ye be men of your manheid,Ye’ll only fight me ane by ane.—

‘O sit ye down, my dearest dear,Sit down an’ hold my milk-white steed,An’ see that ye dinna change your cheerUntil ye see my body bleed.’

He set his back unto an aik[278],He set his feet against a stane,He’s feightin a’ these fifteen outlaws,An’ kill’d them a’ but barely ane.

An’ he has gane to his ladye dear,I wat he kiss’d her cheek an’ chin—‘Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear,An’ now we will wauk the woods our lane.’

FOOTNOTES:[270]wear’d her in = led her into.[271]chapp’d = knocked.[272]gin = trick, or sleight, of the door-latch.[273]wake (obscure).[274]wane = dwelling, arbor.[275]glo’ = glove.[276]our lane = we alone.[277]warldis meed = world’s reward, most precious thing in the world:or perhaps corrupted fromwarldis make, mate.[278]aik = oak.

[270]wear’d her in = led her into.

[271]chapp’d = knocked.

[272]gin = trick, or sleight, of the door-latch.

[273]wake (obscure).

[274]wane = dwelling, arbor.

[275]glo’ = glove.

[276]our lane = we alone.

[277]warldis meed = world’s reward, most precious thing in the world:or perhaps corrupted fromwarldis make, mate.

[278]aik = oak.

IO did ye ever hear o’ brave Earl Brand?Ay lally, o lilly lallyHe courted the King’s daughter o’ fair EnglandAll i’ the night sae early.IIShe was scarcely fifteen years that tide[279]Till sae boldly she came to his bedside.III‘O Earl Bran’, fain wad I seeA pack of hounds let loose on the lea.’—IV‘O lady, I have no steeds but one,But thou shall ride, and I will run.’—V‘O Earl Bran’, my father has two,And thou shall have the best of tho’.’—VIThey have ridden o’er moss and moor,And they have met neither rich nor poor,VIIUntil they met with old Carl Hood:—He’s aye for ill and never for good.VIII‘Earl Bran’, if ye love me,Seize this old carl, and gar him die.’—IX‘O lady fair, it wad be sairTo slay an old man that has grey hair.X‘O lady fair, I’ll no do sae;I’ll gie him a pound and let him gae.’XI‘O where hae ye ridden this lee-lang[280]day?Or where hae ye stolen this lady away?’—XII‘I have not ridden this lee-lang day,Nor yet have I stolen this lady away.XIII‘She is my only, my sick sistèr,Which I have brought from Winchester.’—XIV‘If she be sick and like to dead,Why wears she the ribbon sae red?XV‘If she be sick and like to die,Then why wears she the gold on high?’XVIWhen came the carl to this lady’s yett[281],Rudely, rudely he rapp’d thereat.XVII‘O where’s the lady o’ this ha’?’—‘She’s out with her maids to play at the ba’.’—XVIII‘Ha, ha, ha! ye are a’ mista’en;Gae count your maidens o’er again.XIX‘I met her far beyond the lea,With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be.’XXHer father arm’d of his men fifteen,And they’re ridden after them all-by-dene[282].XXIO’er her left shoulder the lady look’d then:‘O Earl Bran’, we both are ta’en!’—XXII‘If they come on me ane by ane,Ye may stand by and see them slain.XXIII‘But if they come on me ane and all,Ye may stand by and see me fall.’XXIVThey have come on him ane by ane,And fourteen men he has them slain.XXVBut the fifteenth man behind stole round,And he’s gi’en him a deadly wound.XXVIBut for a’ sae wounded as Earl Brand wasHe has set his lady on her horse.XXVIIThey rode till they came to the water o’ Doune.And there he lighted to wash his wound.XXVIII‘O Earl Bran’, I see your heart’s bloud!’—‘It’s na but the glent[283]o’ my scarlet hood.’XXIXThey rode till they came to his mother’s yett,So faint and feebly he rapp’d thereat.XXX‘O my son’s slain, he’s falling to swoun,And a’ for the sake of an English loun!’—XXXI‘So say not sae, my dearest mother,But marry her to my youngest brother.XXXII‘This has not been the death o’ ane,But it’s been the death o’ fair seventeen.’

O did ye ever hear o’ brave Earl Brand?Ay lally, o lilly lallyHe courted the King’s daughter o’ fair EnglandAll i’ the night sae early.

She was scarcely fifteen years that tide[279]Till sae boldly she came to his bedside.

‘O Earl Bran’, fain wad I seeA pack of hounds let loose on the lea.’—

‘O lady, I have no steeds but one,But thou shall ride, and I will run.’—

‘O Earl Bran’, my father has two,And thou shall have the best of tho’.’—

They have ridden o’er moss and moor,And they have met neither rich nor poor,

Until they met with old Carl Hood:—He’s aye for ill and never for good.

‘Earl Bran’, if ye love me,Seize this old carl, and gar him die.’—

‘O lady fair, it wad be sairTo slay an old man that has grey hair.

‘O lady fair, I’ll no do sae;I’ll gie him a pound and let him gae.’

‘O where hae ye ridden this lee-lang[280]day?Or where hae ye stolen this lady away?’—

‘I have not ridden this lee-lang day,Nor yet have I stolen this lady away.

‘She is my only, my sick sistèr,Which I have brought from Winchester.’—

‘If she be sick and like to dead,Why wears she the ribbon sae red?

‘If she be sick and like to die,Then why wears she the gold on high?’

When came the carl to this lady’s yett[281],Rudely, rudely he rapp’d thereat.

‘O where’s the lady o’ this ha’?’—‘She’s out with her maids to play at the ba’.’—

‘Ha, ha, ha! ye are a’ mista’en;Gae count your maidens o’er again.

‘I met her far beyond the lea,With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be.’

Her father arm’d of his men fifteen,And they’re ridden after them all-by-dene[282].

O’er her left shoulder the lady look’d then:‘O Earl Bran’, we both are ta’en!’—

‘If they come on me ane by ane,Ye may stand by and see them slain.

‘But if they come on me ane and all,Ye may stand by and see me fall.’

They have come on him ane by ane,And fourteen men he has them slain.

But the fifteenth man behind stole round,And he’s gi’en him a deadly wound.

But for a’ sae wounded as Earl Brand wasHe has set his lady on her horse.

They rode till they came to the water o’ Doune.And there he lighted to wash his wound.

‘O Earl Bran’, I see your heart’s bloud!’—‘It’s na but the glent[283]o’ my scarlet hood.’

They rode till they came to his mother’s yett,So faint and feebly he rapp’d thereat.

‘O my son’s slain, he’s falling to swoun,And a’ for the sake of an English loun!’—

‘So say not sae, my dearest mother,But marry her to my youngest brother.

‘This has not been the death o’ ane,But it’s been the death o’ fair seventeen.’

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