8 Your father and your mother is well,

But an your brothers three;
Your sister Lady Maisry's well,

So big wi bairn gangs she.'

9 'Gin this be true you tell to me,
My mailison1 light on thee!
But gin it be a lie you tell,
You sal be hangit hie.'

10 He's done him to his sister's bowr,
Wi meikle doole an care;

An there he saw her Lady Maisry,
Kembing her yallow hair.

11 'O wha is aught2 that bairn,' he says,
'That ye sae big are wi?
And gin ye winna own the truth,
This moment ye sall dee.'

12 She turnd her right an roun about,
An the kem fell frae her han;
A trembling seizd her fair body,
An her rosy cheek grew wan.

13 ‘O pardon me, my brother dear,
An the truth I'll tell to thee;
My bairn it is to Lord William,
An he is betrothed to me.'

14 'O coud na ye gotten dukes, or lords,
Intill your ain country,
That ye draw up wi an English dog,
To bring this shame on me?

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gates,

He baed na to chap or ca,7
But set his bent bow till his breast,
An lightly lap the wa;8
An, or the porter was at the gate,
The boy was i the ha.

23 O is my biggins broken, boy?
Or is my towers won?

Or is my lady lighter yet,

Of a dear daughter or son?'

24 Your biggin is na broken, sir,
Nor is your towers won;
But the fairest lady in a' the lan
For you this day maun burn.'

25 'O saddle me the black, the black, Or saddle me the brown;

O saddle me the swiftest steed
That ever rade frae a town.'

26 Or he was near a mile awa,

She heard his wild horse sneeze: 'Mend up the fire, my false brother, It's na come to my knees.'

27 O whan he lighted at the gate,

She heard his bridle ring: 'Mend up the fire, my false brother, It's far yet frae my chin.

28 Mend up the fire to me, brother,
Mend up the fire to me;

For I see him comin hard an fast
Will soon men 't up to thee.

4 blowing both wind and wet. 5 salt.
"bided not to rap or call. 8 leaped the wall.

6 bridges. buildings.

29 'O gin my hands had been loose, Willy, Sae hard as they are boun,

I would have turnd me frae the gleed,1
And castin out your young son.

30 O I'll gar burn for you, Maisry,
Your father an your mother;
An I'll gar burn for you, Maisry,
Your sister an your brother.

31 An I'll gar burn for you, Maisry,
The chief of a' your kin;

An the last bonfire that I come to,
Mysel I will cast in.'

GLASGERION2

120

7 For the kings daughter of Normandye, Her love is granted mee,

And beffore the cocke have crowen,
Att her chamber must I bee.'

8 'But come you hither, master,' quoth hee, 'Lay your head downe on this stone; For I will waken you, master deere, 31 Afore it be time to gone.'

9 But upp then rose that lither ladd,
And did on hose and shoone;

A coller he cast upon his necke,
Hee seemed a gentleman.

10 And when he came to that ladies chamber,

He thrild vpon a pinn;6

The lady was true of her promise,
Rose up and lett him in.

11 He did not take the lady gay
To boulster nor to bedd,
But downe upon her chamber-flore
Full soone he hath her layd.

12 He did not kisse that lady gay

When he came nor when he youd;"
And sore mistrusted that lady gay
He was of some churlës blood.

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1 LORD THOMAS and Fair Annet Sate a' day on a hill;

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13

Whan night was cum, and sun was sett,
They had not talkt their fill.

2 Lord Thomas said a word in jest,
Fair Annet took it ill:
'A, I will nevir wed a wife.
Against my ain friends' will.'

3 'Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee:'
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee.

4 'O rede, O rede, mither,' he says,
'A gude rede gie to mee;

5

O sall I tak the nut-browne bride, And let Faire Annet bee?'

ΤΟ

10 'I 'se rede ye tak Fair Annet, Thomas,
And let the browne bride alane;
Lest ye sould sigh, and say, "Alace,
What is this we brought hame!"'

11 'No, I will tak my mither's counsel,
And marrie me owt o hand;
And I will tak the nut-browne bride,
Fair Annet may leive the land.'

12 Up then rose Fair Annet's father,
Twa hours or it wer day,
And he is gane into the bower
Wherein Fair Annet lay.

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3 dumpy woman. 5 linen.

• one gust.

• shone.

7 stone. 10 womb.

11 mad-angry.