| 1 |
It was on an evning sae saft and sae clear
A bonny lass was milking the kye,
And by came a troup of gentlemen,
And rode the bonny lassie by. |
| 2 |
Then one of them said unto her,
'Bonny lass, prythee shew me the way:'
'O if I do sae, it may breed me wae,
For langer I dare nae stay.'
* * * * * |
| 3 |
But dark and misty was the night
Before the bonny lass came hame:
'Now where hae you been, my ae doughter?
I am sure you was nae your lane.' |
| 4 |
'O father, a tod has come oer your lamb,
A gentleman of high degree,
And ay whan he spake he lifted his hat,
And bonny, bonny blinkit his ee.' |
| 5 |
Or eer six months were past and gane,
Six months but and other three,
The lassie begud for to fret and to frown,
And think lang for his blinkin ee. |
| 6 |
'O wae be to my father's shepherd,
An ill death may he die!
He bigged the bughts sae far frae hame,
And trysted a gentleman to me!' |
| 7 |
It fell upon another fair evening
The bonny lassie was milking her ky,
And by came the troop of Gentlemen,
And rode the bonny lassie by. |
| 8 |
Then one of them stopt, and said to her,
'Whae's aught that baby ye are wi?'
That lassie began for to blush, and think,
To a father as good as ye. |
| 9 |
'O had your tongue, my bonny may,
Sae loud I hear you lie!
O dinnae you mind the misty night
I was in the bught with thee?' |
| 10 |
Now he's come aff his milk-white steed,
And he has taen her hame:
'Now let your father bring hame the ky,
You neer mair shall ca them agen. |
| 11 |
'I am a lord of castles and towers,
With fifty ploughs of land and three,
And I have gotten the bonniest lass
That is in this countrie.' |
