"Have ye brought me any scarlets sae red,
Or any of the silks sae fine;

Or have ye brought me any precious things,
That merchants have for sale?"

"I have not brought you any scarlets sae red, No, no, nor the silks sae fine;

But I have brought you my winding-sheet
Ower many a rock and hill.

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Lady Marjorie, Lady Marjorie,

For faith and charitie,

Will ye gie to me my faith and troth,
That I gave once to thee?"

15

20

"O your faith and troth I'll not gie to thee,

25

No, no, that will not I,

Until I get ae kiss of your ruby lips,

And in my arms you lye."

My lips they are sae bitter,” he says, "My breath it is sae strang,

If you get ae kiss of my ruby lips,

Your days will not be lang.

“The cocks are crawing, Marjorie,” he says,— "The cocks are crawing again;

30

It's time the dead should part the quick,— 35 Marjorie, I must be gane."

She followed him high, she followed him low, Till she came to yon churchyard green; And there the deep grave opened up,

And young William he lay down.

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"What three things are these, sweet William,"

she says,

“That stand here at your head?"

"O it's three maidens, Marjorie," he says,

"That I promised once to wed."

“What three things are these, sweet William,”

she says,

"That stand close at your side?"

"O it's three babes, Marjorie," he says, "That these three maidens had."

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"What three things are these, sweet William,"

she says,

"That lye close at your feet?"

"O it's three hell-hounds, Marjorie,” he says, "That's waiting my soul to keep."

O she took up her white, white hand,
And she struck him on the breast,

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Saying, “Have there again your faith and

troth,

And I wish your saul gude rest.”

55

SWEET WILLIAM AND MAY MARGARET.

Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 241.

As May Margret sat in her bouerie,
In her bouer all alone,

At the very parting o' midnicht,
She heard a mournfu' moan.

"O is it my father, O is it my mother,
Or is it my brother John?

Or is it sweet William, my ain true love,
To Scotland new come home?"

"It is na your father, it is na your mother,
It is na your brother John ;
But it is sweet William, your ain true love,
To Scotland new come home.".

5

10

"Hae ye brought me onie fine things,

Onie new thing for to wear?

Or hae ye brought me a braid o' lace,
To snood up my gowden hair?”

“I've brought ye na fine things at all,
Nor onie new thing to wear,
Nor hae I brought ye a braid of lace,

To snood up your gowden hair.

"But Margaret, dear Margaret,
I pray ye speak to me;

O gie me back my faith and troth,
As dear as I gied it thee!”

15

20

"Your faith and troth ye sanna get,

25

Nor will I wi' ye twin,

Till ye come within my bower,

And kiss me, cheek and chin.”

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"O Margaret, dear Margaret,

I pray ye speak to me;

O gie me back my faith and troth,
As dear as I gied it thee.”

"Your faith and troth ye sanna get,

Nor will I wi' ye twin,

Till ye tak me to yonder kirk,

And wed me wi' a ring."

30

35

66

"O should I come within your bouer,

I am na earthly man:

If I should kiss your red, red lips,

Your days wad na be lang.

My banes are buried in yon kirk-yard,

It's far ayont the sea;

And it is my spirit, Margaret,

That's speaking unto thee."

"Your faith and troth ye sanna get,

Nor will I twin wi' thee,

Tell ye tell me the pleasures o' Heaven,
And pains of hell how they be."

"The pleasures of heaven I wat not of,
But the pains of hell I dree ;
There some are hie hang'd for huring,
And some for adulterie."

Then Marg❜ret took her milk-white hand,
And smooth'd it on his breast;-
"Tak your faith and troth, William,

God send your soul good rest!'

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4.5

50

55