Young Waters

About yule, quhen the wind blew cule, And the round tables began, There came to wait on our king's court, Mony a weil-favour'd man.

The Quein luik'd owr the castle-wa, Beheld baith dale and doun, And then she saw young Waters Cum riding to the town.

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

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

Up then spak a wylie lord, And to the Queen said he, Tell me quha is the fairest face Rides in the companie?

I've seen lords, and I've seen lairds, And knichts of high degree, But a fairer face than young Waters Mine een did never see.

Out then spak the jealous king, (An angry man was he,) "And if he had been twice as fair, "You might have excepted me."

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

For a that she could say or do, Appeas'd he wad nac be; Bot for the words that she had said, Young Waters he maun die.

Sune they hae taen young Waters, Put fetters on his feet; Sune they hae taen young Waters, And thrown in dungeon deep.

They hae taen to the heiding-hill, That knicht sae fair to see; And for the words the queen had spak Young Waters he did die.