Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 367; from the recitation of Agnes
Lyle, Eilbarchan.
| 1 |
'Geordie Lukely is my name,
And many a one doth ken me; O
Many an ill deed I hae done,
But now death will owrecome me. O |
| 2 |
'I neither murdered nor yet have I slain,
I never murdered any;
But I stole fyfteen o the king's bay horse,
And I sold them in Bohemia. |
| 3 |
'Where would I get a pretty little boy,
That would fain win gold and money,
That would carry this letter to Stirling town,
And give it to my lady?' |
| 4 |
'Here am I, a pretty little boy,
That wud fain win gold and money;
I'll carry your letter to Stirling town,
And give it to your lady.' |
| 5 |
As he came in by Stirling town
He was baith weet and weary;
The cloth was spread, and supper set,
And the ladies dancing merry. |
| 6 |
When she read the first of it,
She was baith glad and cheery;
But before she had the half o't read,
She was baith sad and sorry. |
| 7 |
'Come saddle to me the bonnie dapple gray,
Come saddle to me the wee poney;
For I'll awa to the king mysell,
And plead for my ain love Geordie.' |
| 8 |
She gaed up the Cannogate,
Amang the puir folk monie;
She made the handfus o red gold fly,
And bade them pray for Geordie,
And aye she wrang her lily-white hands,
Saying, I am a wearyd lady! |
| 9 |
Up and spoke the king himsell,
And oh, but he spok bonnie!
'It's ye may see by her countenance
That she is Geordie's lady.' |
| 10 |
Up and spoke a bold bluidy wretch,
And oh, but he spoke boldly!
'Tho [thou] should pay ten thousand pounds,
Thou'll never get thy own love Geordie. |
| 11 |
'For I had but ae brother to mysell,
I loved him best of any;
They cutted his head from his fair bodie,
And so will they thy love Geordie.' |
| 12 |
Up and spoke the king again,
And oh, but he spak bonnie!
'If thou'll pay me five thousand pound,
I'll gie thee hame thy love Geordie.' |
| 13 |
She put her hand in her pocket,
She freely paid the money,
And she's awa to the Gallows Wynd,
To get her nain love Geordie. |
| 14 |
As she came up the Gallows Wynd,
The people was standing many;
The psalms was sung, and the bells was rung,
And silks and cords hung bonnie. |
| 15 |
The napkin was tyed on Geordie's face,
And the hangman was just readie:
'Hold your hand, you bluidy wretch!
O hold it from my Geordie!
For I've got a remit from the king,
That I'll get my ain love Geordie.' |
| 16 |
When he heard his lady's voice,
He was baith blythe and merry:
'There's many ladies in this place,
Have not I a worthy ladie?' |
| 17 |
She mounted him on the bonnie dapple grey,
Herself on the wee poney,
And she rode home on his right hand,
All for the pride o Geordie. |
