| 1 |
Fair lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
There she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.
The first morning in May |
| 2 |
'If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
And yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.'
The first morning in May |
| 3 |
This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.
The first morning in May |
| 4 |
'It's a very strange matter, fair maiden,' said he,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
'I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.
The first morning in May |
| 5 |
'But will ye go to yon greenwood side?
Aye as the gowans grow gay
If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.'
The first morning in May |
| 6 |
He leapt on a horse, and she on another,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
And they rode on to the greenwood together.
The first morning in May |
| 7 |
'Light down, light down, lady Isabel,' said he,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
We are come to the place where ye are to die.
The first morning in May |
| 8 |
'Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
Till ance my dear father and mother I see.'
The first morning in May |
| 9 |
'Seven king's-daughters here hae I slain,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
And ye shall be the eight o them.'
The first morning in May |
| 10 |
'O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
That we may hae some rest before that I die.'
The first morning in May |
| 11 |
She stroakd him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
Wi a sma charm she lulld him fast asleep.
The first morning in May |
| 12 |
Wi his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
Wi his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.
The first morning in May |
| 13 |
'If seven king's-daughters here ye hae slain,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
Lye ye here, a husband to them a'.'
The first morning in May |
