"I ken ye by your middle jimp And your merrie twinkling ee, Ye're the bonnie lass o' the Cowdenknowes, And ye may weel seem to be." He's lighted aff his berry-brown steed, And he's set that fair may on; "Call out your kye, gude father! yoursel'For she'll never call them again! "I am the laird o' the Oakland Hills, CLERK SAUNDERS. Clerk Saunders and may Margaret "A bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders said,"A bed for you and me!" 'Fye, na! fye, na!" said may Margaret,— "Till anes we married be: "For in may come my seven brothers They'll say-We hae but ae sister, "Then take the sword from my scabbard, And you may swear, and safe your aith, "And take a napkin in your hand, And tie up your bonnie een, And you may swear, and safe your aith, It was about the midnight hour, When in and came her seven brothers When in and came her seven brothers They said "We hae but ae sister, Then out and spake the first brother- And out and spake the third brother- Then out and spake the fifth brother- Then up and gat the seventh brother, But he has striped his bright brown sword Clerk Saunders he started, and Margaret turn'd And sad and silent was the night And she lay still and sleeped sound And kindly to him she did say "It is time, Love! you're awa." But he lay still and sleeped sound, Then in and came her father dear; "Comfort weel your seven sons! I ween it was neither knave nor loon The clinking bell gaed through the town, [For] the dead corpse to the clay. Clerk Saunders stood at Margaret's window An hour before the day. "Are ye sleeping? Margaret!" he says,- Give me my faith and troth again, "Your faith and troth ye shall never get, Until ye come within my bower And kiss me cheek and chin!" "My mouth it is full cold, Margaret! Has the smell now of the ground; And if I kiss thy comely mouth [Thy] days of life [are found]. "O, cocks are crowing a merry mid night, Give me my faith and troth again, "Thy faith and troth thou shall na get, "Their beds are made in the heavens high, I wot sweet for to see. "O, cocks are crowing a merry mid night, The psalms of heaven will soon be sung, Then she has ta'en a crystal wand, She has stroken her troth thereon, She has given it him out at the shot window Wi' mony a sigh and groan. "I thank ye, Margaret! Margaret! Gin ever the dead come for the quick, It's hosen and shoon and gown alone : "Is there ony room at your head? Saunders ! Is there ony rocm at your feet? Or any room at your side? Saunders! "There's nae room at my head, Margaret! There's nae room at my feet; My bed it is full lowly now, 'Mang the hungry worms I sleep. "Cauld mould it is my covering now, EARL RICHARD. "O Lady! rock never your young young son One hour the langer for me: For I have a sweetheart in Garlioch Wells I love far better than thee. "The very sole o' that Lady's foot Than thy face is far mair white." "But ne'ertheless now, Earl Richard! Ye'll bide in my bower the night!" She birled him wi' the ale and wine Then up and spake the popinjay "Lady! keep weel your green clothing "O better I'll keep my green clothing Frae gude Earl Richard's bleid Than thou canst keep thy clattering tongue That trattles in thy heid." |