Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 127, stanzas 1-17;
the remainder in Dr. John Hill Burton's papers.
Another copy in Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 339.
Both in Dr. Burton's handwriting.
| 1 |
Sweet Willie and Fair Annie,
As they sat on yon hill,
If they hed sat frae morn till even,
They hed no talked their fill.
* * * * * |
| 2 |
Willie's dune him hame again,
As fast as gang could he:
'An askin, an askin, my mother,
And I pray ye'll grant it me. |
| 3 |
'Oh will I merry the nut-brown maid,
Wi her oxen and her kye?
Or will I merry my Fair Annie,
That hes my heart for aye?' |
| 4 |
'Oh if ye merry your Fair Annie,
Your mither's malison you'll wun;
But if ye merry the nut-brown may,
Ye will get her blessin.' |
| 5 |
'Oh voe's me, mother,' Willie said,
'For Annie's bonny face!'
'Little metter o that, my son Willie,
When Annie hesna grace.' |
| 6 |
'Oh voe's me, mither,' Willie said,
'For Annie's bonny han!'
'And what's the metter, son Willie,
When Annie hesna lan? |
| 7 |
'But ye will merry the nut-brown may,
Wi her oxen and her kye;
But ye will merry the nut-brown may,
For she hes my hert for aye.' |
| 8 |
Out and spak his sister Jane,
Where she sat be the fire:
'What's the metter, brother Willie?
Tack ye your heart's desire. |
| 9 |
'The oxen may die into the pleuch,
The cow drown i the myre;
And what's the metter, brother Willie?
Tak ye your heart's desire.' |
| 10 |
'Whare will I get a bonny boy,
That will wun hose and shune,
That will run on to Anny's bower,
And come right sune again?' |
| 11 |
'Ye'll bid her come to Willie's weddin,
The morn is the day;
Ye'll bid her come to Willie's weddin,
And no make no delay. |
| 12 |
'Ye'll forbid her to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie brown;
But the white silk and the reed skarlet,
That will shine frae town to town.' |
| 13 |
He is on to Anie's bower,
And tirled at the pin,
And wha was sae ready as Annie hersel
To let the ladie in. |
| 14 |
'Ye'r bidden to come to Willie's weddin,
The morn is the day;
Ye'r bidden come to Willie's weddin,
And no mack no delay. |
| 15 |
'Ye'r forbidden to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie brown;
But the white silk and the red scarlet,
That will shine frae town to town. |
| 16 |
'Ye'r forbidden to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie gray;
But the white silk and the red scarlet,
That will shine frae brae to brae.' |
| 17 |
'It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
Gif the morn be the day;
It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
And no mack no delay.' |
| 18 |
Annie's steed was silver shod,
And golden graithed behin;
At every teet o her horse mane
A silver bell did ring. |
| 19 |
When Annie was in her sadle set,
She glanced like the moon;
There was as much gould abov her brow
Would buy an earldom. |
| 20 |
When Annie was on her sadel set,
She glanced like the fire;
There was as much gould above her brow
Was worth a yearl's hire. |
| 21 |
Annie gaed in the heigh, heigh hill,
And Willie the dowie glen;
Annie alane shone brighter
Than Willie and a' his men. |
| 22 |
'Oh wha is that, my ane Willie,
That glances in your ee?'
'Oh it is Annie, my first fore love,
Come till see you and me.' |
| 23 |
'Oh far got ye that water, Annie,
That washes ye so wan?'
'Oh I got it aneth yon marble stane,
Where ye will nere get nane. |
| 24 |
'Ye've been brunt sare anent the sun,
And rocket i the reek;
And tho ye wad wash till doom's day,
Ye wad never be so white.' |
| 25 |
'If this be Annie, your first fore love,
Come our weddin to see,
She has by far owr brent a brow
To lat ye bide by me.' |
| 26 |
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,
And a' men bun to bed,
Sweet Willie and his nut-brown bride
In ae chamber were laid. |
| 27 |
The hedna weel layn down, layn down,
But nor hed fallen asleep,
When up and started Fair Annie,
And stud at Willie's feet. |
| 28 |
'Vo be to you, nut-brown bride,
Wi yer oxen and your sheep!
It is Annie, my first fore love,
And I fear sair she is dead. |
| 29 |
'Vo be te you, nut-brown bride,
An ill death you betide!
For you've parted me and my first fore love,
And I fear death is her guide. |
| 30 |
'You'll seddle to me the black, the black,
You'll seddle to me the brown,
Till I ride on to Annie's bower
And see how she is bune.' |
| 31 |
When he came to Fair Annie's bower,
And lighted and gaed in,
. . . . . .
. . . . . |
| 32 |
Her father was at her heed, her heed,
Her mother at her feet,
Her sister she was at her side,
Puttin on her winding sheet. |
| 33 |
'It's kiss will I yer cheek, Annie,
And kiss will I your chin,
And I will kiss your wan, wan lips,
Tho there be no breath within. |
| 34 |
'Ye birl, ye birle at my luve's wake
The white bread and the wine,
And or the morn at this same time
Ye'll brile the same at mine.' |
| 35 |
They birled, they birled at Annies wake
The white bread and the wine,
And ere the morn at that same time
At his they birled the same. |
| 36 |
The one was buried at Mary's kirk,
The other at Mary's quire,
And throw the one there sprang a birk,
And throw the other a brier. |
| 37 |
And ay at every year's ane
They grew them near and near,
And every one that passed them by
Said, They be lovers dear. |
