Young Waters

1. About Yule, when the wind blew cule, And the round tables began, A there is cum to our king's court Mony a well-favor'd man.

2. The queen luikt owre the castle-wa', Beheld baith dale and down, And there she saw Young Waters Cum riding to the town.

3. His footmen they did rin before, His horsemen rade behind; Ane mantel of the burning gowd Did keip him frae the wind.

4. Gowden-graith'd his horse before, And siller-shod behind; The horse Young Waters rade upon Was fleeter than the wind.

5. Out then spack a wylie lord, Unto the queen said he: 'O tell me wha 's the fairest face Rides in the company?'

6. 'I've sene lord, and I've sene laird, And knights of high degree, Bot a fairer face than Young Waters Mine eyne did never see.'

7. Out then spack the jealous king, And an angry man was he: 'O if he had bin twice as fair, You micht have excepted me.'

8. 'You're neither laird nor lord,' she says, 'Bot the king that wears the crown; There is not a knight in fair Scotland Bot to thee maun bow down.'

9. For a' that she coud do or say, Appeas'd he wad nae bee, Bot for the words which she had said, Young Waters he maun die.

10. They hae ta'en Young Waters, And put fetters to his feet; They hae ta'en Young Waters, and Thrown him in dungeon deep.

11. 'Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town, In the wind bot and the weit; Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town Wi' fetters at my feet.

12. 'Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town, In the wind bot and the rain; Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town Neir to return again.'

13. They hae ta'en to the heiding-hill His young son in his craddle, And they hae ta'en to the heiding-hill His horse bot and his saddle.

14. They hae ta'en to heiding-hill His lady fair to see, And for the words the queen had spoke Young Waters he did die.

[Annotations: 1.2: 'round tables,' an unknown game. 4.1: 'graith'd,' harnessed, usually; here perhaps shod. 6.1: 'laird,' a landholder, below the degree of knight.--+Jamieson+. 13.1: 'heiding-hill': i.e. heading (beheading) hill. The place of execution was anciently an artificial hillock.--+Percy+.]