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I
THERE was a may, and a weel-far’d may, | |
| Lived high up in yon glen; | |
| Her name was Katharine Johnstone | |
| She was courted by mony men. | |
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II
Doun cam’ the Laird o’ Lamington | 5 |
| Out frae the North Countrie, | |
| All for to court this pretty may, | |
| Her bridegroom for to be. | |
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III
He tell’d na her father, he tell’d na her mither, | |
| He tell’d na ane o’ her kin, | 10 |
| But he tell’d the bonnie lass hersel’ | |
| An’ her consent did win. | |
| |
IV
But up then cam’ Lord Faughanwood | |
| Out frae the English Border, | |
| And for to court this pretty may, | 15 |
| A’ mounted in good order. | |
| |
V
He ’s tell’d her father, he’s tell’d her mither, | |
| And a’ the lave o’ her kin; | |
| But he ’s tell’d na the bonny lass hersel’ | |
| Till on her weddin’-e’en. | 20 |
| |
VI
She’s sent unto her first fere love, | |
| Gin he would come to see, | |
| And Lamington has sent back word | |
| Weel answer’d should she be. | |
| |
VII
Then he has sent a messenger | 25 |
| Right quietly thro’ the land, | |
| For four-and-twenty arméd men | |
| To ride at his command. | |
| |
VIII
The bridegroom from a high window | |
| Beheld baith dale and down, | 30 |
| And there he spied her first fere love | |
| Cam’ riding to the toun. | |
| |
IX
She scofféd and she scornéd him | |
| Upon her weddin’-day, | |
| And said it was the Fairy Court | 35 |
| He saw in sic array! | |
| |
X
When a’ were at the dinner set, | |
| Drinking the blude-red wine, | |
| In cam’ the Laird o’ Lamington | |
| The bridegroom ’should hae been. | 40 |
| |
XI
‘O come ye here to fight, young lord? | |
| Or come ye here to play? | |
| Or come ye here to drink good wine | |
| Upon the weddin’-day?’— | |
| |
XII
‘I come na here to fight,’ he said | 45 |
| ‘I come na here to play; | |
| I’ll but lead a dance wi’ the bonny bride, | |
| And mount and go my way.’ | |
| |
XIII
There was a glass of the blude-red wine | |
| Was fill’d them up between, | 50 |
| But aye she drank to Lamington, | |
| Wha her true love had been. | |
| |
XIV
He’s ta’en her by the milk-white hand, | |
| And by the grass-green sleeve; | |
| He’s mounted her high behind himsel’, | 55 |
| At her kin he’s spier’d nae leave. | |
| |
XV
There were four-and-twenty bonny boys | |
| A’ clad in the Johnstone grey, | |
| They swore they would tak’ the bride again | |
| By the strong hand, if they may. | 60 |
| |
XVI
It’s up, it’s up the Cowden bank, | |
| It’s down the Cowden brae; | |
| The bride she gar’d the trumpet sound | |
| ‘It is a weel-won play!’ | |
| |
XVII
The blude ran down by Cowden bank | 65 |
| And down by Cowden brae, | |
| But aye she gar’d the trumpet sound | |
| ‘It’s a’ fair play!’ | |
| |
XVIII
‘My blessing on your heart, sweet thing! | |
| Wae to your wilfu’ will! | 70 |
| Sae mony a gallant gentleman’s blood | |
| This day as ye’ve gar’d spill.’ | |
| |
XIX
But a’ you lords of fair England, | |
| If you be English born, | |
| Come never to Scotland to seek a wife | 75 |
| Or else ye’ll get the scorn. | |
| |
XX
They’ll haik ye up, and settle ye by, | |
| Until your weddin’-day; | |
| Then gie ye frogs instead o’ fish, | |
| And do ye foul, foul play. | 80 |
| | | GLOSS: weel-far’d] well-favoured. lave] rest. fere] mate. spier’d] asked. |
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