"Marry that lady wha that will,

A maiden she is nane."

"O leuch ye at my men, Wa'yates, Or did ye lauch at me?

Or leuch ye at the bierdly bride,

That's gaun to marry me?”

“I leuchna at your men, uncle,

Nor yet leuch I at thee;

But I leuch at my lands so braid,

Sae weel's I do them see."

95

100

When e'en was come, and e'en-bells rung,

105

And a' man gane to bed,

The bride but and the silly bridegroom

In ae chamber were laid.

She turn❜d her face unto the wa',
And saut tears she did weep.

It fell about the mirk midnicht,
Auld Ingram began to turn him ;

He put his hand on's ladie's side,

And waly, sair was she mournin'.

"What aileth thee, my lady dear? Ever alas, and wae is me!

115

120

There is a babe betwixt thy sides,

Oh! sae sair's it grieves me!"

“O didna I tell ye, auld Ingram,

Ere ye socht me to wed,

That Lord Wa'yates, your sister's son,

Had been into my bed?"

125

"Then father that bairn on me, Maisery,

130

O father that bairn on me;

And ye sall hae a rigland shire
Your mornin' gift to be."

“O sarbit!” says the Ladie Maisery,
"That ever the like me befa",
To father my bairn on auld Ingram,

Lord Wa'yates in my father's ha'.

“O sarbit!” says the Ladie Maisery,
"That ever the like betide,
To father my bairn on auld Ingram,
And Lord Wa'yates beside."

185

140

SWEET WILLIE AND FAIR MAISRY. See p. 79.

From Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, i. 97.

"HEY love Willie, and how love Willie,
And Willie my love shall be;

They're thinking to sinder our lang love, Willie;
It's mair than man can dee.

"Ye'll mount me quickly on a steed,

A milk-white steed or gray;

And carry me on to gude greenwood
Before that it be day."

He mounted her upon a steed,

He chose a steed o' gray;

He had her on to gude greenwood
Before that it was day.

"O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie?

Or will ye gang wi' me?

Or will ye ha'e a bower woman,

To stay ere it be day? "

"I winna gang to the cards,” she said,

"Nor will I gae wi' thee,

Nor will I hae a bower woman,

To spoil my modestie.

"Ye'll gie me a lady at my back,
An' a lady me beforn;
An' a midwife at my twa sides
Till your young son be born.

"Ye'll do me up, and further up,

To the top o' yon greenwood tree;

For every pain myself shall ha'e,

The same pain ye maun drie.”

20

25

The first pain that did strike sweet Willie,
It was into the side;

30

Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,

"These pains are ill to bide."

The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie,

It was into the back;

Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,

"These pains are women's wreck.”

The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie,

It was into the head;

Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,

"I fear my lady's dead."

Then he's gane on, and further on,
At the foot o' yon greenwood tree;

There he got his lady lighter,
Wi' his young son on her knee.

Then he's ta'en up his little young son,

45

50

And kiss'd him cheek and chin; And he is on to his mother,

As fast as he could gang.

"Ye will take in my son, mother,

Gi'e him to nurses nine;

Three to wauk, and three to sleep,
And three to gang between."

Then he has left his mother's house,

And frae her he has gane;

And he is back to his lady,

And safely brought her hame.

Then in it came her father dear,

Was belted in a brand;

"It's nae time for brides to lye in bed, When the bridegroom's send's in town.

“There are four-and-twenty noble lords A' lighted on the green ;

The fairest knight amang them a',

He must be your bridegroom.”

“O wha will shoe my foot, my foot?
And wha will glove my hand ?
And wha will prin my sma' middle,
Wi' the short prin and the lang?

Now out it speaks him, sweet Willie,
Who knew her troubles best;

"It is my duty for to serve,

As I'm come here as guest.