| 1 |
'How brent's your brow, my Lady Elspat!
How golden yallow is your hair!
Of all the maids of fair Scotland,
There's nane like Lady Elspat fair.' |
| 2 |
'Perform your vows, Sweet William,' she says,
'The vows which ye ha made to me,
An at the back o my mother's castle
This night I'll surely meet wi thee.' |
| 3 |
But wae be to her brother's page,
Who heard the words this twa did say!
He's told them to her lady mother,
Who wrought Sweet William mieckle wae. |
| 4 |
For she has taen him Sweet William,
An she's gard bind him wi his bow-string
Till the red bluide o his fair body
Frae ilka nail o his hand did spring. |
| 5 |
O it fell once upon a time
That the Lord Justice came to town;
Out has she taen him Sweet William,
Brought him before Lord Justice boun. |
| 6 |
'An what is the crime, now, madame,' he says,
'Has been committed by this young man?'
'O he has broken my bonny castel,
That was well biggit with lime and stane. |
| 7 |
'An he has broken my bonny coffers,
That was well banded wi aiken ban,
An he has stoln my rich jewels;
I wot he has them every one.' |
| 8 |
Then out it spake her Lady Elspat,
As she sat by Lord Justice knee;
'Now ye hae taul your tale, mother,
I pray, Lord Justice, you'l now hear me. |
| 9 |
'He has na broken her bonny castel,
That was well biggit wi lime and stane,
Nor has he stoln her rich jewels,
For I wot she has them every one. |
| 10 |
'But tho he was my first true love,
An tho I had sworn to be his bride,
Cause he had not a great estate,
She would this way our loves divide.' |
| 11 |
An out it spake the Lord Justice,
I wot the tear was in his ee;
'I see nae fault in this young man,
Sae loose his bans, an set him free. |
| 12 |
'Take back your love, Lady Elspat,
An my best blessing you baith upon!
For gin he be your first true love,
He is my eldest sister's son. |
| 13 |
'There is a steed in my stable
Cost me baith gold and white money;
Ye's get as mieckle o my free lan
As he'll ride about in a summer's day.' |
