Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 410: from the singing of Agnes
Lyle, KUbarchan, September, 1825.
| 1 |
There was a knight, was drunk with wine,
Came riding along the way, sir;
He would have had a lady gay
Amang the quiles of hay, sir. |
| 2 |
'What if I should lay thee down,
Amang the quiles of hay, maid?
Sheets nor blankets have I none,
To keep thy cloathing clean, maid.' |
| 3 |
'The wind blaws east, the wind blaws west,
The wind blaws owre yon thorn, sir;
Weel may I wash my cloathing clear,
And dry them on the morn, sir.' |
| 4 |
'What if I should lay thee down,
Amang the rigs of corn, maid?
Then the king's life-guard will come,
And steal our steeds away, maid.' |
| 5 |
'I have ten gold rings on my hand,
They're all gold but the stone, sir;
I'll give them to the king's life-guard,
If he'll let our steeds alone, sir. |
| 6 |
'But see you not yon sunny bank,
Over yon lily lea, sir,
Where you and I may crack a while,
And never one may see, sir?' |
| 7 |
He was on a milk-white steed,
And she was on another,
And all the live-long winter night
They rode like sister and brother. |
| 8 |
When they came to that sunny bank,
He began to lay her down, sir;
'O no, O no, kind sir,' she says,
'Ye'll ruffle all my gown, sir. |
| 9 |
'My gown it cost my father dear,
'twas many a mark and pound, sir;
And if that ye do lay me down,
Ye'll ruffle all my gown, sir. |
| 10 |
'But see ye na yon fair castel,
Over yon lily lea, sir,
Where you and I may crack a while,
And never one may see, sir?' |
| 11 |
He was on a milk-white steed,
And she was on another,
And all the live-long winter night
They rode like sister and brother. |
| 12 |
When they came to that fair castel,
She was at her father's yet, sir;
She jumped in at her father's door,
And left this knight without, sir. |
| 13 |
She says, I am a maid within,
You're but a knave without, sir;
There were neer a butcher's son
Put me in so much doubt, sir. |
| 14 |
'Oh if I had thee out,' he said,
'But two miles from the town, maid,
I would lay thee down,' he said,
'And never mind thy gown, maid.' |
| 15 |
'There is a flower in my father's garden,
The name o't marigold, sir,
And he that would not when he might,
He shall not when he wold, sir. |
| 16 |
'But when eer ye meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from a town, sir,
Ye may lay her down,' she says,
And never mind her gown, sir. |
| 17 |
'Ye're like unto my father's steed;
He's standing in the lone, sir;
He hings his head above the sheaf,
But daur not venture on, sir. |
| 18 |
'When eer ye meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from the town, sir,
Ye may lay her down,' she says,
'And never mind her gown, sir. |
| 19 |
'There is a cock in my father's flock,
He wears a double comb, sir,
He claps his wings, but craweth not;
I fear you be like him, sir. |
| 20 |
'But when eer you meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from a town, sir,
You may lay her down,' she said,
'And never mind her gown, sir.' |
