Fragments

Earl Douglas then wham nevir knicht Had valour mair nae courtesie, Is now sair blam'd by a the land For lichtlying o his gay ladie.

'Gae little page, and tell my lord, 'Gin he will cum and dyne wi me, 'I'll set him on a seat o gowd, 'And serve him on my bended knie.'

'Now wae betide ye black Fastness, 'Bot and an ill deid may ye die! 'Ye was the first and formost man 'Wha pairted my true lord and me.'

She has called to her her bouir maidens, She has called them ane by ane: "There lyes a deid man in my bouir, "I wish that he war gane."

They ha booted him and spurred him, As he was wont to ryde, A hunting horn ty'd round his waist, A sharp sword by his syde.

Then up and spak a bonnie bird, That sat upo the trie; 'What hae ye done wi Earl Richard, 'Ye was his gay ladie?'

"Cum doun, cum doun, my bonnie bird, "And licht upo my hand; "And ye shall hae a cage o gowd, "Whar ye hae but the wand."

'Awa, awa, ye ill woman! 'Nae cage o gowd for me; 'As ye hae done to Earl Richard, 'Sae wad ye doe to me.'

See ye the castle's lonelie wa, That rises in yon yle? There Angus mourns that eir he did His sovereign's luve begyle.

'O will ye gae wi me fair maid? 'O will ye gae wi me? 'I'll set you in a bouir o gowd 'Nae haly cell ye'se drie.'

"O meikle lever wald I gang "To bide for ay wi thee, "Then heid the king my father's will, "The haly cell to drie.

"Sin I maun nevir see nor speke "Wi him I luve sae deir, "Ye are the first man in the land "I wald cheis for my fere."

Whar yon cleir burn frae down the loch, Rins saftlie to the sea, There latelie bath'd in hete o nune A squire of valour hie.

He kend nae that the fause mermaid There us'd to beik and play, Or he had neir gane to the bathe, I trow, that dreirie day.

Nae suner had he deft his claiths, Nae suner gan to swim, Than up she rais'd her bonnie face Aboon the glittering streim.

'O comelie youth, gin ye will cum 'And be my leman deir, 'Ye sall ha pleasance o ilk sort, 'Bot any end or feir.

'I'll tak ye to my emraud ha 'Wi perles lichted rouud; 'Whar ye sall live wi luve and me, 'And neir by bale be found.