Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 377; from Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan.
| 1 |
Earl Richard has a hunting gone,
As fast as he can ride;
He's a hunting-horn about his neck,
And a broadsword by his side. |
| 2 |
'Licht down, licht down, Earl Richard,' she says,
'O licht down and come in,
And thou'll get cheer and charcoal clear,
And torches for to burn.' |
| 3 |
'I winna licht, I canna licht,
I winna licht at all;
A fairer lady then ten of thee
Meets me at Richard's Wall.' |
| 4 |
He louted owre his saddle-bow,
And for to kiss her sweet,
But little thocht o that penknife
Wherewith she wound him deep. |
| 5 |
'Why wounds thou me so deep, lady?
Why stabs thou me so sore?
There's not a lord like Earl Richard
Could love false woman more.' |
| 6 |
She called upon her waiting-maid,
Long before it was day:
'I have a dead man in my bower,
I wish he were away.' |
| 7 |
'Keep ye your bower, my lily-flower,
Keep it free of all men's blood;'
'Oh I will keep it een as weel
As you or any maid. |
| 8 |
'But siller will be thy wage,' she says,
'And gold will be thy fee,
And I mysell will gang alang
And bear thee companye.' |
| 9 |
They booted him, and spurred him,
As he was wont to ride,
And they're awa to Lorn's Water,
To Lorn's Water so wide. |
| 10 |
They turned down his yellow hair,
Turnd up his milk-white feet:
'Lye thou there, Earl Richard,' she said,
'Till the blood seep from thy bane;
That fairer maid than ten of me
Will look lang or thou come hame.' |
| 11 |
As they were coming hame again,
Upon the road so hie,
There they spy'd a small pyet,
Was sitting on a tree. |
| 12 |
'Where has thou been, fair lady?' it says,
'Whare has thou been so soon?
Or what did thou wi Earl Richard,
Was late wi thee yestreen?' |
| 13 |
'Come down, come down, my wee pyet;
An thou'll come to my knee,
I have a cage of beaten gold,
And I'll bestow 't on thee.' |
| 14 |
'Keep thou thy cage of beaten gold,
And I will keep my tree;
For as thou did wi Earl Richard,
So wad thou do wi me;
Thou wad thraw the wee head aff my bouk,
And drown me in the sea.' |
| 15 |
'Come down, come down, my wee pyet;
An thou'll come to my hand,
I have a cage of beaten gold,
And thou's be put therein.' |
| 16 |
'Keep thou thy cage o beaten gold,
And I will keep my tree;
For as thou did wi Earl Richard,
So would thou do wi me.' |
| 17 |
'Oh an I had my bow bendit,
And set unto my knee,
I wad shoot this wee pyet
Sits gabbling on the tree.' |
| 18 |
'Before thou get thy bow bendit,
And set unto thy knee,
I'll be at Earl Richard's father,
Telling ill tales on thee.' |
| 19 |
As they were coming hame again,
Upon the road so bricht,
There they saw Earl Richard's father,
Coming marching in their sicht. |
| 20 |
'Whare has thou been, fair lady?' he says,
'Whare has thou been back sae sune?
O what did thou wi my auld son,
Was late wi thee yestreen?' |
| 21 |
She did swear by stars o licht,
And grass-green growing corn,
That she had not seen Earl Richard's face
Since Saturday at morn;
'But in Lorn's Water, indeed,' she says,
'I fear his days are done.' |
| 22 |
'There was not a ford in Lorn's Water
But he could ride it weel;
And what did thou wi my auld son,
That went with thee afield?'
* * * * * |
