VII. the Cruel Knight

The knight stands in the stable door As he was bownd to ride; Whan out thair comes his fair lady, And him desires to bide.

"How can I bide, how dare I bide, "How can I bide wi thee? "Have I not kill'd thy ae brother? "Thou hadst nae mair but he."

'If thou hast kill'd my ae brother, 'Alas and wae is me! 'But if I save thee from the paine, 'My luve's the mair to thee.'

She has taen him to her secret bower, Steik'd wi a siller-pin; And she's up to the highest tower, To watch that nane come in.

She had nae weil gane up the stair, And entered in the tower, When four and twenty armed knights Came riding to the door.

'Now God you save, my fair lady, 'Declare to me I pray, 'Did you not see a wounded knight 'Come riding by this way?

"Yes bloody bloody was his sword, "And bloody were his hands; "But, if the steed he rides be good, "He's past fair Scotland's strands."

Then she's gane to her darksome bower, Her husband dear to meet; He deem'd he heard his angry faes, And wounded her fou deep.

'What harm my lord provokes thine ire, 'To wreak itself on me? 'Have I not sav'd thy life frae faes, 'And sav'd for sic a fee!'

"Now live, now live, my fair lady, "O live but half an hour; "There's neer a leech in all Scotland "But shall be at thy bower."

'How can I live, how shall I live, 'How can I live for thee? 'While running fast oer a the floor, 'My heart's blood thou may'st see!'