Joseph Robertson's Note-Book "Adversaria," p. 88; from
tradition.
| * |
* * *
AND she has built a lofty ship,
And set her to the main;
The masts o her were gude reed gowd,
And the sails o silver clear. |
| 2 |
'Ye winna bide three months awa
When ye'll return again,
In case your lady lichter be,
And your baby want the name.' |
| 3 |
But the wind blew high,
The mariners they did land at Lundin soon. |
| 4 |
A lady sat on the castell-wa,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw this lofty ship,
Comin sailin in the Downs. |
| 5 |
'Look out, look out, my maidens a',
Ye seena what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailied the sea,
And the master o her's the bonniest boy
That ever my eyes did see.' |
| 6 |
She's taen her mantell her about,
Her cane intill her han,
And she's away to the shore-side,
Till invite the square to dine. |
| 7 |
'O will ye come to our castell?
Or will ye sup or dine?'
'O excuse me, madam,' he said,
'For I hae but little time.'
* * * * * |
| 8 |
The wind blew high,
The mariners they did land at home again. |
| 9 |
The old man sat in the castell-wa,
Beholding dale and down,
And there he spied this goodly ship
Come sailin to the town. |
| 10 |
'Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,
Ye see not what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailed the sea. |
| 11 |
'And the master o her's the bonniest boy
That my eyes did ever see,
And if I were a woman as I'm a man
My husband he should be.' |
| 12 |
'Haud far awa frae me, fader,
Haud far awa frae me,
For I never had a lad but ane,
And he's far awa at sea. |
| 13 |
'There is a love-token atween us twa,
It'll be mair ere it be less,
An aye the langer he bides awa
It will the mair encreass.' |
| 14 |
He's taen his mantell him about,
His cane intil his hand,
And he's awa to the shore-side,
To invite the square to dine. |
| 15 |
'O will ye come to our castle?
Or will ye sup or dine?'
'Indeed I will, kind sir,' he said,
'Tho I've but little time.' |
| 16 |
The lady sat on castle-wa,
Beholding dale and down,
But he's put his veil upon his face,
That she might not him ken.
* * * * * |
