"Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,"
No 30, Abbotsford. Sent Scott by William Laidlaw, in
September, 1 802; obtained by him from Jean Scott.
| 1 |
There leeft a may, an a weel-far'd may,
High, high up in yon glen; O
Her name was Katarine Janfarie,
She was courtit by monie men. O |
| 2 |
Up then cam Lord Lauderdale,
Up thrae the Lawland border,
And he has come to court this may,
A' mountit in gude order. |
| 3 |
He's telld her father, he's telld her mother,
An a' the lave o her kin,
An he has telld the bonnie lass hersel,
An has her favour win. |
| 4 |
Out then cam Lord Faughanwood,
Out frae the English border,
An for to court this well-far'd may,
A' mountit in gude order. |
| 5 |
He telld her father, he telld her mother,
An a' the rest o her kin,
But he neer telld the bonnie lass hersell
Till on her waddin-een. |
| 6 |
When they war a' at denner set,
Drinkin the bluid-red wine,
'Twas up then cam Lord Lauderdale,
The bridegroom soud hae been. |
| 7 |
Up then spak Lord Faughanwood,
An he spak very slee:
'O are ye come for sport?' he says,
'Or are ye come for play?
Or are ye come for a kiss o our bride,
An the morn her waddin-day?' |
| 8 |
'O I'm no come for ought,' he says,
'But for some sport or play;
An ae word o yer bonnie bride,
Than I'll horse an ride away.' |
| 9 |
She filld a cup o the gude red wine,
Sh filld it to the ee:
'Here's a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,
An a' your companie.' |
| 10 |
She filld a cup o the gude red wine,
She filld it to the brim:
'Here's a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,
My bridegroom should hae been.' |
| 11 |
He's taen her by the milk-white hand,
And by the gars-green sleeve,
An he has mountit her behind him,
O the bridegroom spierd nae leave. |
| 12 |
'It'[s] now take yer bride, Lord Faughanwood,
Now take her an ye may;
But if ye take yer bride again
We will ca it foul play.' |
| 13 |
There war four a twenty bonnie boys,
A' clad i the simple gray;
They said the wad take their bride again,
By the strang hand an the may. |
| 14 |
Some o them were fu willin men,
But they war na willin a';
Sae four an twentie ladies gay
Bade them ride on their way. |
| 15 |
The bluid ran down by the Cadan bank,
An in by the Cadan brae,
An ther the gard the piper play
It was a' for foul, foul play. |
| 16 |
A' ye lords in fair England
That live by the English border,
Gang never to Scotland to seek a wife,
Or than ye'll get the scorn. |
| 17 |
They'll keep ye up i temper guid
Untill yer wadin-day,
They'll thraw ye frogs instead o fish,
An steal your bride away. |
