English poem
The Bonny Earl Of Murray
by Frank Sidgwick (1879–1939)
1. Ye Highlands and ye Lawlands, Oh! where have you been? They have slain the Earl of Murray, And they lay’d him on the green! They have, &c.
2. Now wae be to thee, Huntly, And wherefore did you sae? I bade you bring him wi’ you, But forbade you him to slay. I bade, &c.
3. He was a braw gallant, And he rid at the ring; And the bonny Earl of Murray, Oh! he might have been a King. And the, &c.
4. He was a braw gallant, And he play’d at the ba’; And the bonny Earl of Murray Was the flower amang them a’. And the, &c.
5. He was a braw gallant, And he play’d at the glove; And the bonny Earl of Murray, Oh! he was the Queen’s love. And the, &c.
6. Oh! lang will his lady Look o’er the castle Down, E’er she see the Earl of Murray Come sounding thro’ the town. E’er she, &c.
[Annotations: 3.2: A game of skill and horsemanship. 5.2: Probably like the last. 6.3: ‘E’er’ = ere.]