| 1 |
There were four-and-twenty ladies dined i the Queen's ha,
And Jean o Bethelnie was the flower o them a'. |
| 2 |
Four-and-twenty gentlemen rode thro Banchory fair,
But bonny Glenlogie was the flower that was there. |
| 3 |
Young Jean at a window she chanced to sit nigh,
And upon Glenlogie she fixed an eye. |
| 4 |
She calld on his best man, unto him did say,
O what is that knight's name? or where does he stay? |
| 5 |
'He's of the noble Gordons, of great birth and fame;
He stays at Glenlogie, Sir George is his name.' |
| 6 |
Then she wrote a broad letter, and wrote it in haste;
To send it Glenlogie, she thought it was best. |
| 7 |
Says, O brave Glenlogie, unto me be kind;
I've laid my love on you, and told you my mind. |
| 8 |
Then reading the letter, as he stood on the green,
Says, I leave you to judge, sirs; what does women mean? |
| 9 |
Then turnd about sprightly, as the Gordons do a':
'Lay not your love on me, I'm promisd awa.' |
| 10 |
When she heard this answer, her heart was like to break,
That she laid her love on him, and him so ungrate. |
| 11 |
Then she calld on her maidens to lay her to bed,
And take her fine jewels and lay them aside. |
| 12 |
'My seals and my signets, no more shall I crave;
But linen and trappin, a chest and a grave.' |
| 13 |
Her father stood by her, possess d with fear,
To see his dear daughter, possess d with care. |
| 14 |
Says, Hold your tongue, Jeannie, let all your folly be;
I'll wed you to Dumfedline, he is better than he. |
| 15 |
'O hold your tongue, father, and let me alane;
If I getna Glenlogie, I'll never have ane. |
| 16 |
'His bonny jimp middle, his black rolling eye,
If I getna Glenlogie, I'm sure I shall die.' |
| 17 |
But her father's old chaplain, a man of great skill,
He wrote a broad letter, and penned it well. |
| 18 |
Saying, O brave Glenlogie, why must it be so?
A maid's love laid on you, shall she die in her woe? |
| 19 |
Then reading the letter, his heart was like to break
That such a leal virgin should die for his sake. |
| 20 |
Then he calld on his footman, and likewise his groom,
Says, Get my horse saddled and bridl d soon. |
| 21 |
Before the horse was saddled and brought to the yate,
Bonnie Glenlogie was five miles on foot. |
| 22 |
When he came to Bethelnie, he saw nothing there
But weeping and wailing, vexation and care. |
| 23 |
Then out spake her father, with the tear in his ee,
You're welcome, Glenlogie, you're welcome to me. |
| 24 |
'If ye make me welcome, as welcome's ye say,
Ye'll show me the chamber where Jeannie does lay.' |
| 25 |
Then one o her maidens took him by the hand,
To show him the chamber where Jeannie lay in. |
| 26 |
Before that she saw him, she was pale and wan;
But when she did see him, she grew ruddy again. |
| 27 |
'O turn, bonny Jeannie, turn you to your side;
For I'll be the bridegroom, and ye'll be the bride.' |
| 28 |
When Jeannie was married, her tocher down tauld,
Bonny Jean o Bethelnie was fifteen years auld. |
