Alex. Laing, Ancient Ballads and Songs, etc., etc.,
from the recitation of old people.
Never published. 1829. p. 6.
1 |
Fair Margret was a young ladye,
An come of high degree;
Fair Margret was a young ladye,
An proud as proud coud be. |
2 |
Fair Margret was a rich ladye,
The king's cousin was she;
Fair Margaret was a rich ladye,
An vain as vain coud be. |
3 |
She war'd her wealth on the gay cleedin
That comes frae yont the sea,
She spent her time frae morning till night
Adorning her fair bodye. |
4 |
Ae night she sate in her stately ha,
Kaimin her yellow hair,
When in there cum like a gentle knight,
An a white scarf he did wear. |
5 |
'O what's your will wi me, sir knight,
O what's your will wi me?
You're the likest to my ae brother
That ever I did see. |
6 |
'You're the likest to my ae brother
That ever I hae seen,
But he's buried in Dunfermline kirk,
A month an mair bygane.' |
7 |
'I'm the likest to your ae brother
That ever ye did see,
But I canna get rest into my grave,
A' for the pride of thee. |
8 |
'Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,
Leave pride an vanity;
Ere ye see the sights that I hae seen,
Sair altered ye maun be. |
9 |
'O ye come in at the kirk-door
Wi the gowd plaits in your hair;
But wud ye see what I hae seen,
Ye maun them a' forbear. |
10 |
'O ye come in at the kirk-door
Wi the gowd prins i your sleeve;
But wad ye see what I hae seen,
Ye maun gie them a' their leave. |
11 |
'Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,
Leave pride an vanity;
Ere ye see the sights that I hae seen,
Sair altered ye maun be.' |
12 |
He got her in her stately ha,
Kaimin her yellow hair,
He left her on her sick sick bed,
Sheding the saut saut tear. |