P. 195. D b. Macmath Manuscript, p. 105; from
the recitation of Mary Cochrane (Mrs. Garmory), Abbeyyard,
Crossmichael, August 12, 1893.
| 1 |
Bonny May to the ewe-buchts is gane,
To milk her daddie's yowes,
And aye as she sang, her bonny voice it rang
Outoer the taps o the knowes, knowes,
Outoer the taps o the knowes. |
| 2 |
. . .
. . .
A troop o noble gentlemen
Came riding merrily by. |
| 5 |
He took her by the middle sae sma,
And by the green gown sleeve,
And he's laid her down on the dewy, dewy ground,
And he's asked no man's leave. |
| 9 |
He's mounted on his milk-white steed,
And he's rode after his men,
And all that his merry men said to him
Was, Dear master ye 've tarried long. |
| 10 |
'I have ridden east and I have ridden west,
And I've ridden among the knowes,
But the bonniest lass that eer I saw
Was milking her daddie's yowes.' |
| 11 |
She's taen the milk-pail on her head,
And she's gane singing hame,
And all that her father said to her
Was, Dear daughter, ye 've tarried long. |
| 13 |
'O there cam a tod amang my yowes,
An a waefu tod was he;
Afore he had taen my wee yowe-lamb,
I wad rather he had taen ither three.' |
| 15 |
It happened on a day, and a bonny summer day,
As she was ca'in in her father's kye,
The same troop o noble gentlemen
Came riding merrily by. |
| 16 |
One of them calls out
Lassie, have ye got a man?
She turned her head right saucy about,
Saying, I.'ve got ane at hame. |
| 17 |
Hold your tongue, my bonny lass,
How loud I hear ye lee!
Do you no remember the caul mirky nicht
When ye were in the yowe-buchts wi me?' |
| 18 |
He's ordered one of his merry men
To licht and set her on behind him,
Saying, Your father may ca in his kye when he likes,
For they'll neer be ca'ed in by thee. |
| 19 |
'For I am the laird o the Ochiltree walls,
I have fifty ploughs and three,
And I have got the bonniest lass
In a' the North Countrie.' |
