Buchan's ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 155.
| 1 |
Sweet Willie was a widow's son,
And milk-white was his weed;
It sets him weel to bridle a horse,
And better to saddle a steed, my dear,
And better to saddle a steed. |
| 2 |
But he is on to Maisry's bower-door,
And tirled at the pin:
'Ye sleep ye, wake ye, Lady Maisry,
Ye'll open, let me come in.' |
| 3 |
'O who is this at my bower-door,
Sae well that knows my name?'
'It is your ain true-love, Willie,
If ye love me, lat me in.' |
| 4 |
Then huly, huly raise she up,
For fear o making din,
Then in her arms lang and bent,
She caught sweet Willie in. |
| 5 |
She leand her low down to her toe,
To loose her true-love's sheen,
But cauld, cauld were the draps o bleed
Fell fae his trusty brand. |
| 6 |
'What frightfu sight is that, my love?
A frightfu sight to see!
What bluid is this on your sharp brand?
O may ye not tell me?' |
| 7 |
'As I came thro the woods this night,
The wolf maist worried me;
O shoud I slain the wolf, Maisry?
Or shoud the wolf slain me?' |
| 8 |
They hadna kissd, nor love clapped,
As lovers when they meet,
Till up it starts her auld father,
Out o his drowsy sleep. |
| 9 |
'O what's become o my house-cock,
Sae crouse at ane did craw?
I wonder as much at my bold watch,
That's nae shooting ower the wa. |
| 10 |
'My gude house-cock, my only son,
Heir ower my land sae free,
If ony ruffian hae him slain,
High hanged shall he be.' |
| 11 |
Then he's on to Maisry's bower-door,
And tirled at the pin:
'Ye sleep ye, wake ye, daughter Maisry,
Ye'll open, lat me come in.' |
| 12 |
Between the curtains and the wa
She rowd her true-love then,
And huly went she to the door,
And let her father in. |
| 13 |
'What's become o your maries, Maisry,
Your bower it looks sae teem?
What's become o your green claithing,
Your beds they are sae thin?' |
| 14 |
'Gude forgie you, father,' she said,
'I wish ye be't for sin;
Sae aft as ye hae dreaded me,
But never found me wrang.' |
| 15 |
He turnd him right and round about,
As he'd been gaun awa;
But sae nimbly as he slippet in
Behind a screen sae sma. |
| 16 |
Maisry, thinking a' dangers past,
She to her love did say,
'Come, love, and take your silent rest;
My auld father's away.' |
| 17 |
Then baith lockd in each other's arms,
They fell full fast asleep,
When up it starts her auld father,
And stood at their bed-feet. |
| 18 |
'I think I hae the villain now
That my dear son did slay;
But I shall be revengd on him
Before I see the day.' |
| 19 |
Then he's drawn out a trusty brand,
And stroakd it oer a stray,
And thro and thro Sweet Willie's middle
He's gart cauld iron gae. |
| 20 |
Then up it wakend Lady Maisry,
Out o her drowsy sleep,
And when she saw her true-love slain,
She straight began to weep. |
| 21 |
'O gude forgie you now, father,' she said,
'I wish ye be't for sin;
For I never lovd a love but ane,
In my arms ye've him slain.' |
| 22 |
'This night he's slain my gude bold watch,
Thirty stout men and twa;
Likewise he's slain your ae brother,
To me was worth them a'. |
| 23 |
'If he has slain my ae brither,
Himsell had a' the blame,
For mony a day he plots contriv'd,
To hae Sweet Willie slain. |
| 24 |
'And tho he's slain your gude bold watch,
He might hae been forgien;
They came on him in armour bright,
When he was but alane.' |
| 25 |
Nae meen was made for this young knight,
In bower where he lay slain,
But a' was for sweet Maisry bright,
In fields where she ran brain. |
