'The New-Slain Knight,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 197.
| 1 |
My heart is lighter than the poll;
My folly made me glad,
As on my rambles I went out,
Near by a garden-side. |
| 2 |
I walked on, and father on,
Love did my heart engage;
There I spied a well-faird maid,
Lay sleeping near a hedge. |
| 3 |
Then I kissd her with my lips
And stroked her with my hand:
'Win up, win up, ye well-faird maid,
This day ye sleep oer lang. |
| 4 |
'This dreary sight that I hae seen
Unto my heart gives pain;
At the south side o your father's garden,
I see a knight lies slain.' |
| 5 |
'O what like was his hawk, his hawk?
Or what like was his hound?
And what like was the trusty brand
This new-slain knight had on?' |
| 6 |
'His hawk and hound were from him gone,
His steed tied to a tree;
A bloody brand beneath his head,
And on the ground lies he.' |
| 7 |
'O what like was his hose, his hose?
And what like was his shoon?
And what like was the gay clothing
This new-slain knight had on?' |
| 8 |
'His coat was of the red scarlet,
His waistcoat of the same;
His hose were of the bonny black,
And shoon laced with cordin. |
| 9 |
'Bonny was his yellow hair,
For it was new combd down;'
Then, sighing sair, said the lady fair,
'I combd it late yestreen. |
| 10 |
'O wha will shoe my fu fair foot?
Or wha will glove my hand?
Or wha will father my dear bairn,
Since my love's dead and gane?' |
| 11 |
'O I will shoe your fu fair foot,
And I will glove your hand;
And I'll be father to your bairn,
Since your love's dead and gane.' |
| 12 |
'I winna father my bairn,' she said,
'Upon an unkent man;
I'll father it on the King of Heaven,
Since my love's dead and gane.' |
| 13 |
The knight he knackd his white fingers,
The lady tore her hair;
He's drawn the mask from off his face,
Says, Lady, mourn nae mair. |
| 14 |
'For ye are mine, and I am thine,
I see your love is true;
And if I live and brook my life
Ye'se never hae cause to rue.' |
