{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch217.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch217.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch217.htm","text":"217A.1 THERE was a troop of merry gentlemen\nWas riding atween twa knows,\nAnd they heard the voice of a bonny lass,\nIn a bught milking her ews.\n217A.2 There\u2019s ane o them lighted frae off his steed,\nAnd has ty\u2019d him to a tree,\nAnd he\u2019s gane away to yon ew-bught,\nTo hear what it might be.\n217A.3 \u2018O pity me, fair maid,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Take pity upon me;\nO pity me, and my milk-white steed\nThat\u2019s trembling at yon tree.\u2019\n217A.4 \u2018As for your steed, he shall not want\nThe best of corn and hay;\nBut as to you yoursel, kind sir,\nI\u2019ve naething for to say.\u2019\n217A.5 He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the green gown-sleeve,\nAnd he as led her into the ew-bught,\nOf her friends he speerd nae leave.\n217A.6 He as put his hand in his pocket,\nAnd given her guineas three:\n\u2018If I dinna come back in half a year,\nThen luke nae mair for me.\n217A.7 \u2018Now show to me the king\u2019s hie street,\nNow show to me the way;\nNow show to me the king\u2019s hie street,\nAnd the fair water of Tay.\u2019\n217A.8 She showd to him the king\u2019s hie street,\nShe showd to him the way;\nShe showd him the way that he was to go,\nBy the fair water of Tay.\n217A.9 When she came home, her father said,\n\u2018Come, tell to me right plain;\nI doubt you\u2019ve met some in the way,\nYou have not been your lain.\u2019\n217A.10 \u2018The night it is baith mist and mirk,\nYou may gan out and see;\nThe night is mirk and misty too,\nThere\u2019s nae body been wi me.\n217A.11 \u2018There was a tod came to your flock,\nThe like I neer did see;\nWhen he spake, he lifted his hat,\nHe had a bonny twinkling eee.\u2019\n217A.12 When fifteen weeks were past and gane,\nFull fifteen weeks and three,\nThen she began to think it lang\nFor the man wi the twinkling eee.\n217A.13 It fell out on a certain day,\nWhen she cawd out her father\u2019s ky,\nThere was a troop of gentlemen\nCame merrily riding by.\n217A.14 \u2018Weel may ye sigh and sob,\u2019 says ane,\n\u2018Weel may you sigh and see;\nWeel may you sigh, and say, fair maid,\nWha\u2019s gotten this bairn wi thee?\u2019\n217A.15 She turned her sel then quickly about,\nAnd thinking meikle shame,\n\u2018O no, kind sir, it is na sae,\nFor it has a dad at hame.\u2019\n217A.16 \u2018O hawd your tongue, my bonny lass,\nSae loud as I hear you lee!\nFor dinna you mind that summer night\nI was in the bught wi thee?\u2019\n217A.17 He lighted off his milk-white steed,\nAnd set this fair maid on;\n\u2018Now caw out your ky, good father,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018She\u2019ll neer caw them out again.\n217A.18 \u2018I am the laird of Knottington,\nI\u2019ve fifty plows and three;\nI\u2019ve gotten now the bonniest lass\nThat is in the hale country.\u2019\n217B: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217B.1 IT was on an evning sae saft and sae clear\nA bonny lass was milking the kye,\nAnd by came a troup of gentlemen,\nAnd rode the bonny lassie by.\n217B.2 Then one of them said unto her,\n\u2018Bonny lass, prythee shew me the way:\u2019\n\u2018O if I do sae, it may breed me wae,\nFor langer I dare nae stay.\u2019\n* * * * *\n217B.3 But dark and misty was the night\nBefore the bonny lass came hame:\n\u2018Now where hae you been, my ae doughter?\nI am sure you was nae your lane.\u2019\n217B.4 \u2018O father, a tod has come oer your lamb,\nA gentleman of high degree,\nAnd ay whan he spake he lifted his hat,\nAnd bonny, bonny blinkit his ee.\u2019\n217B.5 Or eer six months were past and gane,\nSix months but and other three,\nThe lassie begud for to fret and to frown,\nAnd think lang for his blinkin ee.\n217B.6 \u2018O wae be to my father\u2019s shepherd,\nAn ill death may he die!\nHe bigged the bughts sae far frae hame,\nAnd trysted a gentleman to me!\u2019\n217B.7 It fell upon another fair evening\nThe bonny lassie was milking her ky,\nAnd by came the troop of Gentlemen,\nAnd rode the bonny lassie by.\n217B.8 Then one of them stopt, and said to her,\n\u2018Whae\u2019s aught that baby ye are wi?\u2019\nThat lassie began for to blush, and think,\nTo a father as good as ye.\n217B.9 \u2018O had your tongue, my bonny may,\nSae loud I hear you lie!\nO dinnae you mind the misty night\nI was in the bught with thee?\u2019\n217B.10 Now he\u2019s come aff his milk-white steed,\nAnd he has taen her hame:\n\u2018Now let your father bring hame the ky,\nYou neer mair shall ca them agen.\n217B.11 \u2018I am a lord of castles and towers,\nWith fifty ploughs of land and three,\nAnd I have gotten the bonniest lass\nThat is in this countrie.\u2019\n217C: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217C.1 IT was on a day whan a lovely may\nWas cawing out her father\u2019s kye,\nAnd she spied a troop o\u2019 gentlemen,\nAs they war passing bye.\n217C.2 \u2018O show me the way, my pretty maid,\nO show me the way,\u2019 said he;\n\u2018My steed has just now rode wrong,\nAnd the way I canna see.\u2019\n217C.3 \u2018O haud you on the same way,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018O haud ye on\u2019t again,\nFor, if ye haud on the king\u2019s hieway,\nRank rievers will do ye na harm.\u2019\n217C.4 He took her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the gerss-green sleeve,\nAnd he has taiglet wi the fair may,\nAnd of her he askd na leave.\n217C.5 Whan ance he got her gudwill,\nOf her he craved na mair,\nBut he poud out a ribbon frae his pouch,\nAnd snooded up the may\u2019s hair.\n217C.6 He put his hand into his pouch,\nAnd gave her guineas three:\n\u2018If I come na back in twenty weeks,\nYe need na look mair for me.\u2019\n217C.7 But whan the may did gang hame,\nHer father did her blame;\n\u2018Whare hae ye been now, dame?\u2019 he said\n\u2018For ye\u2019ve na been your lane.\u2019\n217C.8 \u2018The nicht is misty and mirk, father,\nYe may come to the door and see;\nThe nicht is misty and mirk, father,\nAnd there\u2019s na body wi me.\n217C.9 \u2018But there cam o tod to your flock, father,\nThe like o him I never saw;\nOr he had tane the lambie that he had,\nI wad rather he had tane them aw.\n217C.10 \u2018But he seemd to be a gentleman,\nOr a man of some pious degree;\nFor whanever he spak, he lifted up his hat,\nAnd he had [a] bonnie twinkling ee.\u2019\n217C.11 Whan twenty weeks were come and gane,\nTwenty weeks and three,\nThe lassie began to grow thick in the waist,\nAnd thoucht lang for his twinkling ee.\n217C.12 It fell upon a day whan bonnie may\nWas cawing out the kye,\nShe spied the same troop o gentlemen,\nAs they war passing bye.\n217C.13 \u2018O well may you save, my pretty may,\nWeill may you save and see!\nWeill may ye save, my lovely may!\nGo ye wi child to me?\u2019\n217C.14 But the may she turnd her back to him,\nShe begoud to think meikle shame;\n\u2018Na, na, na, na, kind sir,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018I\u2019ve a gudeman o my ain.\u2019\n217C.15 \u2018Sae loud as I hear ye lie, fair may,\nSae loud as I hear ye lee!\nDinna ye mind o yon misty nicht\nWhan I was in the bucht wi thee?\u2019\n217C.16 He lichted aff his hie, hie horse,\nAnd he set the bonnie may on:\n\u2018Now caw out your kye, gud father,\nYe maun caw them out your lone.\n217C.17 \u2018For lang will ye caw them out,\nAnd weary will ye be,\nOr ye get your dochter again\n. . .\n217C.18 He was the laird o Ochiltree,\nOf therty ploughs and three,\nAnd he has stown awa the loveliest may\nIn aw the south cuntree.\n217D: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217D.1 O BONNIE May is to the yowe-buchts gane,\nFor to milk her daddie\u2019s yowes,\nAnd ay she sang, and her voice it rang\nOut-ower the tap o the knows, knows, knowes,\nOut-owr the tap o the knowes.\n217D.2 Ther cam a troop gentilmen,\nAs they were rydand by,\nAnd ane o them he lichtit doun,\nFor to see May milkand her kye.\n217D.3 \u2018Milk on, milk on, my bonnie lass,\nMilk on, milk on,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018For out o the buchts I winna gang\nTill ye shaw me owr the lee.\u2019\n217D.4 \u2018Ryde on, ryde on, ye rank rydars,\nYour steeds are stout and strang,\nFor out o the yowe-buchts I winna gae,\nFor fear that ye do me some wrang.\u2019\n217D.5 He took her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the green gown-sleive,\nAnd thare he took the will o her,\nBot o her he askit nae leive.\n217D.6 But whan he gat his will o her\nHe loot her up again,\nAnd a\u2019 this bonny maid said or did\nWas, Kind sir, tell me your name.\n217D.7 He pou\u2019t out a sillar kame,\nSayand, Kame your yellow hair;\nAnd, gin I be na back in three quarters o a year,\nIt\u2019s o me ye\u2019ll see nae mair.\n217D.8 He pu\u2019t out a silken purse\nAnd he gied her guineas thrie,\nSaying, Gin I may na be back in three quarters o a year,\nIt will pay the nourice fee.\n217D.9 He put his fut into the stirrup\nAnd rade after his men,\nAnd a\u2019 that his men said or did\nWas, Kind maister, ye\u2019ve taiglit lang.\n217D.10 \u2018I hae rade east, I hae rade wast,\nAnd I hae rade owr the knowes,\nBut the bonniest lassie that I ever saw\nWas in the yowe-buchts, milkand her yowes.\u2019\n217D.11 She put the pail upon her heid,\nAnd she\u2019s gane merrilie hame,\nAnd a\u2019 that her faither said or did\nWas, Kind dochter, ye\u2019ve taiglit lang.\n217D.12 \u2018Oh, wae be to your men, faither,\nAnd an ill deth may they die!\nFor they cawit a\u2019 the yowes out-owre the knowes,\nAnd they left naebody wi me.\n217D.13 \u2018There cam a tod unto the bucht,\nThe like I never saw,\nAnd afore that he took the ane that he took,\nI wad leifar he had tane ither twa.\n217D.14 \u2018There cam a tod unto the bucht,\nThe like I never did see,\nAnd, ay as he spak, he liftit his hat,\nAnd he had a bonnie twinkland ee.\u2019\n217D.15 It was on a day, and it was a fine simmer day,\nShe was cawing out her faither\u2019s kye,\nThere cam a troup o gentilmen,\nAnd they rade ways the lass near by.\n217D.16 \u2018Wha has dune to you this ill, my dear?\nWha has dune to you this wrang?\u2019\nAnd she had na a word to say for hersell\nBut, \u2018Kind sir, I hae a man o my ain.\u2019\n217D.17 \u2018Ye lie, ye lie, bonnie May,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Aloud I hear ye lie!\nFor dinna ye mind yon bonnie simmer nicht\nWhan ye war in the yowe-buchts wi me?\n217D.18 \u2018Licht doun, licht doun, my foremaist man,\nLicht doun and let her on,\nFor monie a time she cawit her faither\u2019s kye,\nBut she\u2019ll neir caw them again.\n217D.19 \u2018For I am the laird o Ochiltree Wawis,\nI hae threttie pleuchs and thrie,\nAnd I hae tane awa the bonniest lass\nThat is in a\u2019 the north countrie.\u2019\n217E: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217E.1 THERE was a may, and a bonnie may,\nIn the bught, milking the ewes,\nAnd by came a troop of gentlemen,\nAnd they rode by and by.\n217E.2 \u2018O I\u2019ll give thee my milk-white steed,\nIt cost me three hundred pound,\nIf ye\u2019ll go to yon sheep-bught,\nAnd bring yon fair maid doun.\u2019\n217E.3 \u2018Your steed ye canna want, master,\nBut pay to ane a fee;\nFifty pound of good red gold,\nTo be paid down to me.\u2019\n217E.4 \u2018Come shew me the way, pretty may,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018For our steeds are quite gone wrong;\nWill you do to me such a courtesy\nAs to shew us the near-hand way?\u2019\n217E.5 \u2018O go ye doun to yon meadow,\nWhere the people are mowing the hay;\nGo ye doun to yon meadow,\nAnd they\u2019ll shew you the near-hand way.\u2019\n217E.6 But he\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the grass-green sleeve;\nHe\u2019s bowed her body to the ground,\nOf her kin he asked no leave.\n217E.7 When he lifted her up again\nHe\u2019s gien her guineas three:\n\u2018If I be na back gin three quarters o a year,\nYe need neer think mair on me.\u2019\n* * * * *\n217E.8 \u2018O where hast thou been, bonnie may,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018O where hast thou been sae lang?\nO where hast thou been, bonnie may?\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Thou hast na been sae lang thy lane.\u2019\n217E.9 \u2018O come to the door and see, father,\nO come to the door and see,\nAnd see such a weety and a windy night;\nThere were nobody wi me.\n217E.10 \u2018But wae be to your herd, father,\nAnd an ill death may he die!\nFor he left the ewes strayed owre the knowes,\nAnd he left naebody wi me.\n217E.11 \u2018But there came a tod to your bught, father,\nThe like o him I neer saw;\nFor or he had taen the bonnie lamb he took,\nYe had as weel hae gien them a\u2019.\n217E.12 There came a tod to your bught, father,\nThe like o him I neer did see;\nFor aye when he spak he lifted up his hat,\nAnd he had a bonnie twinkling ee.\u2019\n217E.13 But when twenty weeks were come and gane,\nAye, twenty weeks and three,\nThis lassie began to spit and to spew,\nAnd to lang for the twinkling ee.\n217E.14 It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day,\nShe was ca\u2019ing out her father\u2019s kye,\nAnd by came a troop of gentlemen,\nAnd they rode by and by.\n217E.15 \u2018O wha got the bairn wi thee, bonnie may?\nO wha got the bairn wi thee?\u2019\n. . . .\n. . . .\n217E.16 She turned hersell right round about,\nShe began to blush and think shame,\nAnd never a word this bonnie lassie spok\nBut \u2018I have a good-man at hame.\u2019\n217E.17 \u2018Thou lie, thou lie, my bonnie may,\nSae loud I hear thee lie!\nDo ye mind o the weety and windy night\nWhen I was in the ewe-bught wi thee?\n217E.18 \u2018Light off, light off, the gentlest of my men,\nAnd set her on behind,\nAnd ca out your kye, good father, yoursell,\nFor she\u2019ll never ca them out again.\u2019\n217E.19 He was the laird o twenty plough o land,\nAye, twenty plough and three,\nAnd he\u2019s taen awa the bonniest lass\nWas in a\u2019 the south countrie.\n217F: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217F.1 BONNY MAY has to the ewe-bughts gane,\nTo milk her father\u2019s ewes,\nAn aye as she milked her bonny voice rang\nFar out amang the knowes.\n* * * * *\n217F.2 \u2018Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may,\nMilk on, milk on,\u2019 said he;\n\u2018Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may;\nWill ye shew me out-ower the lea?\u2019\n217F.3 \u2018Ride on, ride on, stout rider,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Yere steed\u2019s baith stout and strang;\nFor out o the eww-bught I daurna come,\nFor fear ye do me wrang.\u2019\n217F.4 But he\u2019s tane her by the milk-white hand,\nAn by the green gown-sleeve,\nAn he\u2019s laid her low on the dewy grass,\nAn at nae ane spiered he leave.\n217F.5 Then he\u2019s mounted on his milk-white steed,\nAn ridden after his men,\nAn a\u2019 that his men they said to him\nWas, Dear master, ye\u2019ve tarried lang.\n217F.6 \u2018I\u2019ve ridden east, an I\u2019ve ridden wast,\nAn I\u2019ve ridden amang the knowes,\nBut the bonniest lassie eer I saw\nWas milkin her daddie\u2019s yowes.\u2019\n217F.7 She\u2019s taen the milk-pail on her heid,\nAn she\u2019s gane langin hame,\nAn a her father said to her\nWas, Daughter, ye\u2019ve tarried lang.\n217F.8 \u2018Oh, wae be to your shepherds! father,\nFor they take nae care o the sheep;\nFro they\u2019ve bygit the ewe-bught far frae hame,\nAn they\u2019ve trysted a man to me.\n217F.9 \u2018There came a tod unto the bucht,\nAn a waefu tod was he,\nAn, or ever he had tane that ae ewe-lamb,\nI had rather he had tane ither three.\u2019\n217F.10 But it fell on a day, an a bonny summer day,\nShe was ca\u2019in out her father\u2019s kye,\nAn bye came a troop o gentlemen,\nCam ridin siwftly bye.\n217F.11 Out an spoke the foremost ane,\nSays, Lassie hae ye got a man?\nShe turned herself saucy round about,\nSays, Yes, I\u2019ve ane at hame.\n217F.12 \u2018Ye lee, ye lee, ye my bonny may,\nSaw loud as I hear ye lee!\nFor dinna ye mind that misty nicht\nYe were in the ewe-bughts wi me?\u2019\n217F.13 He ordered ane o his men to get down;\nSays, Lift her up behind me;\nYour father may ca in the kye when he likes,\nThey sall neer be ca\u2019ed in by thee.\n217F.14 \u2018For I\u2019m the laird o Athole swaird,\nWi fifty ploughs an three,\nAn I hae gotten the bonniest lass\nIn a\u2019 the north countrie.\u2019\n217G: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217G.1 O THE broom, and the bonny, bonny broom,\nAnd the broom of the Cowdenknows!\nAnd aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,\nI the bought, milking the ewes.\n217G.2 The hills were high on ilka side,\nAn the bought i the lirk o the hill,\nAnd aye, as she sang, her voice it rang\nOut-oer the head o yon hill.\n217G.3 There was a troop o gentlemen\nCame riding merrilie by,\nAnd one o them has rode out o the way,\nTo the bought to the bonny may.\n217G.4 \u2018Well may ye save an see, bonny lass,\nAn weel may ye save an see!\u2019\n\u2018An sae wi you, ye weel-bred knight,\nAnd what\u2019s your will wi me?\u2019\n217G.5 \u2018The night is misty and mirk, fair may,\nAnd I have ridden astray,\nAnd will ye be so kind, fair may,\nAs come out and point my way?\u2019\n217G.6 \u2018Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!\nYour steed\u2019s baith stout and strang;\nFor out of the bought I dare na come,\nFor fear at ye do me wrang.\u2019\n217G.7 \u2018O winna ye pity me, bonny lass?\nO winna ye pity me?\nAn winna ye pity my poor steed,\nStands trembling at yon tree?\u2019\n217G.8 \u2018I wadna pity your poor steed,\nTho it were tied to a thorn;\nFor if ye wad gain my love the night\nYe wad slight me ere the morn.\n217G.9 \u2018For I ken you by your weel-busked hat,\nAnd your merrie twinkling ee,\nThat ye\u2019re the laird o the Oakland hills,\nAn ye may weel seem for to be.\u2019\n217G.10 \u2018But I am not the laird o the Oakland hills,\nYe\u2019re far mistaen o me;\nBut I\u2019m ane o the men about his house,\nAn right aft in his companie.\u2019\n217G.11 He\u2019s taen her by the middle jimp,\nAnd by the grass-green sleeve,\nHe\u2019s lifted her over the fauld-dyke,\nAnd speerd at her sma leave.\n217G.12 O he\u2019s taen out a purse o gowd,\nAnd streekd her yellow hair:\n\u2018Now take ye that, my bonnie may,\nOf me till you hear mair.\u2019\n217G.13 O he\u2019s leapt on his berry-brown steed,\nAn soon he\u2019s oertaen his men;\nAnd ane and a\u2019 cried out to him,\nO master, ye\u2019ve tarryd lang!\n217G.14 \u2018O I hae been east, and I hae been west,\nAn I hae been far oer the knows,\nBut the bonniest lass that ever I saw\nIs i the bought, milkin the ewes.\u2019\n217G.15 She set the cog upon her head,\nAn she\u2019s gane singing hame:\n\u2018O where hae ye been, my ae daughter?\nYe hae na been your lane.\u2019\n217G.16 \u2018O nae body was wi me, father,\nO nae body has been wi me;\nThe night is misty and mirk, father,\nYe may gang to the door and see.\n217G.17 \u2018But wae be to your ewe-herd, father,\nAnd an ill deed may he die!\nHe bug the bought at the back o the know\nAnd a tod has frighted me.\n217G.18 \u2018There came a tod to the bought-door,\nThe like I never saw;\nAnd ere he had taken the lamb he did\nI had lourd he had taen them a\u2019.\u2019\n217G.19 O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane,\nFifteen weeks and three,\nThat lassie began to look thin and pale,\nAn to long for his merry-twinkling ee.\n217G.20 It fell on a day, on a het simmer day,\nShe was ca\u2019ing out her father\u2019s kye,\nBy came a troop o gentlemen,\nA\u2019 merrilie riding bye.\n217G.21 \u2018Weel may ye save an see, bonny may!\nWeel may ye save and see!\nWeel I wat ye be a very bonny may,\nBut whae\u2019s aught that babe ye are wi?\u2019\n217G.22 Never a word could that lassie say,\nFor never a ane could she blame,\nAn never a word could the lassie say,\nBut, I have a good man at hame.\n217G.23 \u2018Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may,\nSae loud as I hear you lie!\nFor dinna ye mind that misty night\nI was i the bought wi thee?\n217G.24 \u2018I ken you by your middle sae jimp,\nAn your merry-twinkling ee,\nThat ye\u2019re the bonny lass i the Cowdenknow,\nAn ye may weel seem for to be.\u2019\n217G.25 Than he\u2019s leapd off his berry-brown steed,\nAn he\u2019s set that fair may on:\n\u2018Caw out your kye, gude father, yoursel,\nFor she\u2019s never caw them out again.\n217G.26 I am the laird of the Oakland hills,\nI hae thirty plows and three,\nAn I hae gotten the bonniest lass\nThat\u2019s in a\u2019 the south country.\u2019\n217H: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217H.1 THERE was a may, a maiden sae gay,\nWent out wi her milking-pail;\nLang she foucht or her ewes wad bucht,\nAnd syne she a milking fell.\n217H.2 And ay as she sang the rocks they rang,\nHer voice gaed loud and shill;\nYe wad hae heard the voice o the maid\nOn the tap o the ither hill.\n217H.3 And ay she sang, and the rocks they rang,\nHer voice gaed loud and hie;\nTill by there cam a troop o gentlemen,\nA riding up that way.\n217H.4 \u2018Weel may ye sing, ye bonnie may,\nWeel and weel may ye sing!\nThe nicht is misty, weet, and mirk,\nAnd we hae ridden wrang.\u2019\n217H.5 \u2018Haud by the gate ye cam, kind sir,\nHaud by the gate ye cam;\nBut tak tent o the rank river,\nFor our streams are unco strang.\u2019\n217H.6 \u2018Can ye na pity me, fair may,\nCanna ye pity me?\nCanna ye pity my puir steed,\nStands trembling at yon tree?\u2019\n217H.7 \u2018What pity wad ye hae, kind sir?\nWhat wad ye hae frae me?\nIf he has neither corn nor hay,\nHe has gerss at libertie.\u2019\n217H.8 \u2018Can ye na pity me, fair may,\nCan ye na pity me?\nCan ye na pity a gentle knicht\nThat\u2019s deeing for love o thee?\u2019\n217H.9 He\u2019s tane her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the gerss-green sleeve;\nHe\u2019s laid her laigh at the bucht-end,\nAt her kin speird na leave.\n217H.10 \u2018After ye hae tane your will o me,\nYour will as ye hae tane,\nBe as gude a gentle knicht\nAs tell to me your name.\u2019\n217H.11 \u2018Some do call me Jack,\u2019 says he,\n\u2018And some do call me John;\nBut whan I\u2019m in the king\u2019s hie court\nDuke William is my name.\n217H.12 \u2018But I ken by your weel-faurd face,\nAnd by your blinking ee,\nThat ye are the Maid o the Cowdenknows,\nAnd seem very weel to be.\u2019\n217H.13 \u2018I am na the maid o the Cowdenknows,\nNor does not thnk to be;\nBut I am ane o her best maids,\nThat\u2019s aft in her companie.\n217H.14 \u2018But I ken by your black, black hat,\nAnd by your gay gowd ring,\nThat ye are the Laird o Rochna hills,\nWha beguiles a\u2019 our women.\u2019\n217H.15 \u2018I am na the Laird o Rochna hills,\nNor does na think to be;\nBut I am ane o his best men,\nThat\u2019s aft in his companie.\u2019\n217H.16 He\u2019s put his hand in his pocket\nAnd tane out guineas three;\nSays, Tak ye that, my bonnie may;\nIt\u2019ll pay the nourice fee.\n217H.17 She\u2019s tane her cog upon her head,\nAnd fast, fast gaed she hame:\n\u2018Whare hae ye been, my dear dochter?\nYe hae na been your lane.\n217H.18 \u2018The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk;\nYe may look out and see;\nThe ewes war skippin oure the knowes,\nThey wad na bucht in for me.\n217H.19 \u2018But wae be to your shepherd, father,\nAn ill death may he dee!\nHe bigget the buchts sae far frae the toun,\nAnd he trysted a man to me.\n217H.20 \u2018There cam a tod amang the flock,\nThe like o him I neer did see;\nAfore he had tane the lamb that he took,\nI\u2019d rather he\u2019d tane ither three.\u2019\n217H.21 Whan twenty weeks war past and gane,\nTwenty weeks and three,\nThe lassie begoud to spit and spue,\nAnd thought lang for \u2019s blinkin ee.\n217H.22 \u2019Twas on a day, and a day near bye,\nShe was ca\u2019ing out the kye,\nThat by cam a troop o merry gentlemen,\nCam riding bye that way.\n217H.23 \u2018Wha\u2019s gien ye the scorn, bonnie may?\nO wha\u2019s done ye the wrang?\u2019\n\u2018Na body, na body, kind sir,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018My baby\u2019s father\u2019s at hame.\u2019\n217H.24 \u2018Ye lee, ye lee, fause may,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Sae loud as I hear ye lee!\nDinna ye mind o the mirk misty nicht\nI buchted the ewes wi thee?\u2019\n217H.25 \u2018Weel may I mind yon mirk misty nicht,\nWeel may I mind,\u2019 says she;\n\u2018For ay when ye spak ye lifted up your hat,\nYe had a merry blinkin ee.\u2019\n217H.26 He\u2019s turned him round and richt about,\nAnd tane the lassie on;\n\u2018Ca out your kye, auld father,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018She sall neer ca them again.\n217H.27 \u2018For I am the Laird o Rochna hills,\nO thirty plows and three;\nAnd I hae gotten the bonniest lass\nO a\u2019 the west countrie.\u2019\n217H.28 \u2018And I\u2019m the Maid o the Cowdenknows,\nO twenty plows and three;\nAnd I hae gotten the bonniest lad\nIn a\u2019 the north countrie.\u2019\n217I: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217I.1 THE lassie sang sae loud, sae loud,\nThe lassie sang sae shill;\nThe lassie sang, and the greenwud rang,\nAt the farther side o yon hill.\n217I.2 Bye there cam a troop o merry gentlemen,\nThey aw rode merry bye;\nThe very first and the foremaist\nWas the first that spak to the may.\n217I.3 \u2018This is a mark and misty nicht,\nAnd I have ridden wrang;\nIf ye wad be sae gude and kind\nAs to show me the way to gang.\u2019\n217I.4 \u2018If ye binna the laird o Lochnie\u2019s lands,\nNor nane o his degree,\nI\u2019ll show ye a nearer road that will keep you frae\nThe glen-waters and the raging sea.\u2019\n217I.5 \u2018I\u2019m na the laird o Lochnie\u2019s lands,\nNor nane o his degree;\nBut I am as brave a knicht,\nAnd ride aft in his company.\n217I.6 \u2018Have ye na pity on me, pretty maid?\nHave ye na pity on me?\nHave ye na pity on my puir steed,\nThat stands trembling by yon tree?\u2019\n217I.7 \u2018What pity wad ye hae, kind sir?\nWhat pity wad ye hae frae me?\nThough your steed has neither corn nor hay,\nIt has gerss at its liberty.\u2019\n217I.8 He has trysted the pretty maid\nTill they cam to the brume,\nAnd at the end o yon ew-buchts\nIt\u2019s there they baith sat doun.\n217I.9 Till up she raise, took up her milk-pails,\nAnd away gaed she hame;\nUp bespak her auld father,\n\u2018It\u2019s whare hae ye been sae lang?\u2019\n217I.10 \u2018This is a mark and a misty nicht,\nYe may gang to the door and see;\nThe ewes hae taen a skipping out-oure the knows,\nThey winna bucht in for me.\n217I.11 \u2018I may curse my father\u2019s shepherd;\nSome ill death mat he dee!\nHe has buchted the ewes sae far frae the toun,\nAnd has trysted the young men to me.\u2019\n217J: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217J.1 IT was a dark and a misty night,\n. . . .\nAnd by came a troop o gentlemen,\nSaid, Lassie, shew me the way.\n217J.2 \u2018Oh well ken I by your silk mantle,\nAnd by your grass-green sleeve,\nThat you are the maid of the Cowdenknows,\nAnd may well seem to be.\u2019\n217J.3 \u2018I\u2019m nae the maid of the Cowdenknows,\nNor ever think to be;\nI am but ane of her hirewomen,\nRides aft in her companie.\n217J.4 \u2018Oh well do I ken by your milk-white steed,\nAnd by your merry winking ee,\nThat you are the laird of Lochinvar,\nAnd may well seem to be.\u2019\n217J.5 \u2018I\u2019m nae the laird of Lochinvar,\nNor may well seem to be;\nBut I am one of his merry young men,\nAnd am oft in his companie.\u2019\n* * * * *\n217J.6 \u2018The tod was among your sheep, father,\nYou may look forth and see;\nAnd before he had taen tha lamb he\u2019s taen\nI had rather he had taen three.\u2019\n217J.7 When twenty weeks were come and gane,\nTwenty weeks and three,\nThe lassie she turned pale and wan\n. . . .\n217J.8 . . . .\nAnd was caain out her father\u2019s kye,\nWhen by came a troop of gentlemen,\nWere riding along the way.\n217J.9 \u2018Fair may it fa thee, weel-fa\u2019rt may!\nWha\u2019s aught the bairn ye\u2019re wi?\u2019\n\u2018O I hae a husband o my ain,\nTo father my bairn te.\u2019\n217J.10 \u2018You lie, you lie, you weel-far\u2019d may,\nSae loud \u2019s I hear you lie!\nDo you mind the dark and the misty night\nI was in the bught wi thee?\u2019\n217J.11 \u2018Oh well do I ken by your milk-white steed,\nAnd by your merry winkin ee,\nThat you are the laird of Lochinvar,\nThat was in the bught wi me.\u2019\n217K: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217K.1 * * * * *\nTHERE was four and twenty gentlemen,\nAs they were ridin by,\nAnd aff there loups the head o them,\nCums in to this fair may.\n217K.2 \u2018It\u2019s a mark and a mark and a misty night,\nAnd we canna know the way;\nAnd ye wad be as gude to us\nAs shew us on the way.\u2019\n217K.3 \u2018Ye\u2019ll get a boy for meat,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Ye\u2019ll get a boy for fee,\n. . . .\nThat will shew you the right way.\u2019\n217K.4 \u2018We\u2019ll get a boy for meat,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018We\u2019ll get a boy for fee,\nBut we do not know where to seek\nThat bonny boy out.\u2019\n* * * * *\n217K.5 \u2018It\u2019s foul befa my auld father\u2019s men,\nAn ill death mat they die!\nThey\u2019ve biggit the ewe bucht sae far frae the town\nThey\u2019ve tristed the men to me.\u2019\n217L: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217L.1 O THE broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom grows oer the burn!\nAye when I mind on\u2019s bonny yellow hair,\nI aye hae cause to mourn.\n?? There was a bonny, a well-fared may,\nIn the fauld milking her kye,\nWhen by came a troop of merry gentlemen,\nAnd sae merrily they rode by.\nO the broom, etc.\n217L.2 The maid she sang till the hills they rang,\nAnd a little more forebye,\nTill in came ane of these gentlemen\nTo the bught o the bonny may.\n217L.3 \u2018Well mat ye sing, fair maid,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018In the fauld, milking your kye;\nThe night is misty, weet and dark,\nAnd I\u2019ve gane out o my way.\u2019\n217L.4 \u2018Keep on the way ye ken, kind sir,\nKeep on the way ye ken;\nBut I pray ye take care o Clyde\u2019s water,\nFor the stream runs proud and fair.\u2019\n217L.5 \u2018I ken you by your lamar beads,\nAnd by your blinking ee,\nThat your mother has some other maid\nTo send to the ewes than thee.\u2019\n217L.6 \u2018I ken you by your powderd locks,\nAnd by your gay gold ring,\nThat ye are the laird o Rock-rock lays,\nThat beguiles all young women.\u2019\n217L.7 \u2018I\u2019m not the laird o the Rock-rock lays,\nNor ever hopes to be;\nBut I am one o the finest knights\nThat\u2019s in his companie.\n217L.8 \u2018Are ye the maid o the Cowden Knowes?\nI think you seem to be;\u2019\n\u2018No, I\u2019m not the maid o the Cowden Knowes,\nNor ever hopes to be;\nBut I am one of her mother\u2019s maids,\nAnd oft in her companie.\u2019\n217L.9 \u2018He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by her grass-green sleeve,\nHe\u2019s set her down upon the ground\nOf her kin spierd nae leave.\n217L.10 He\u2019s gien her a silver comb,\nTo comb her yellow hair;\nHe bade her keep it for his sake,\nFor fear she never got mair.\n217L.11 He pat his hand in his pocket,\nHe\u2019s gien her guineas three;\nSays, Take ye that, fair maid, he says,\n\u2019Twill pay the nourice\u2019s fee.\n217L.12 She\u2019s taen the milk-pail on her head,\nAnd she gaed singing hame,\nAnd a\u2019 that her auld father did say,\n\u2018Daughter, ye\u2019ve tarried lang.\u2019\n217L.13 \u2018Woe be to your shepherd, father,\nAnd an ill death mat he die!\nHe\u2019s biggit the bught sae far frae the town,\nAnd trystit a man to me.\n217L.14 \u2018There came a tod into the bught,\nThe like o \u2019m I neer did see;\nBefore he\u2019d taen the lamb he\u2019s taen,\nI\u2019d rather he\u2019d taen other three.\u2019\n217L.15 Or eer six months were past and gane,\nSix months but other three,\nThis lassie begud for to fret and frown,\nAnd lang for his blinking ee.\n217L.16 It fell upon another day,\nWhen ca\u2019ing out her father\u2019s kye,\nThat by came the troop o gentlemen,\nSae merrily riding by.\n217L.17 Then ane of them stopt, and said to her,\n\u2018Wha\u2019s aught that bairn ye\u2019re wi?\u2019\nThe lassie began for to blush, and think,\nTo a father as good as ye.\n217L.18 She turnd her right and round about\nAnd thought nae little shame;\nThen a\u2019 to him that she did say,\n\u2018I\u2019ve a father to my bairn at hame.\u2019\n217L.19 \u2018Ye lie, ye lie, ye well-fared may,\nSae loud\u2019s I hear ye lie!\nFor dinna ye mind yon misty night\nI was in the bught wi thee?\n217L.20 \u2018I gave you a silver comb,\nTo comb your yellow hair;\nI bade you keep it for my sake,\nFor fear ye\u2019d never get mair.\n217L.21 \u2018I pat my hand in my pocket,\nI gae you guineas three;\nI bade you keep them for my sake,\nAnd pay the nourice\u2019s fee.\u2019\n217L.22 He\u2019s lappen aff his berry-brown steed\nAnd put that fair maid on;\n\u2018Ca hame your kye, auld father,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018She shall never mair return.\n217L.23 \u2018I am the laird o the Rock-rock lays,\nHae thirty ploughs and three,\nAnd this day will wed the fairest maid\nThat eer my eyes did see.\u2019\nO the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom grows oer the burn!\nAye when she minds on his yellow hair,\nShe shall neer hae cause to mourn.\n217M: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217M.1 \u2019TWAS on a misty day, a fair maiden gay\nWent out to the Cowdenknowes;\nLang, lang she thought ere her ewes woud bught,\nWi her pail for to milk the ewes.\nO the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom o the Cowdenknowes!\nAnd aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,\nIn the ewe-bught, milking her ewes.\n217M.2 And aye as she sang the greenwoods rang,\nHer voice was sae loud and shrill;\nThey heard the voice of this well-far\u2019d maid\nAt the other side o the hill.\n217M.3 \u2018My mother she is an ill woman,\nAnd an ill woman is she;\nOr than she might have got some other maid\nTo milk her ewes without me.\n217M.4 \u2018My father was ance a landed laird,\nAs mony mair have been;\nBut he held on the gambling trade\nTill a \u2019s free lands were dune.\n217M.5 \u2018My father drank the brandy and beer,\nMy mother the wine sae red;\nGars me, poor girl, gang maiden lang,\nFor the lack o tocher guid.\u2019\n217M.6 There was a troop o merry gentlemen\nCame riding alang the way,\nAnd one o them drew the ewe-bughts unto,\nAt the voice of this lovely may.\n217M.7 \u2018O well may you sing, my well-far\u2019d maid,\nAnd well may you sing, I say,\nFor this is a mirk and a misty night,\nAnd I\u2019ve ridden out o my way.\u2019\n217M.8 \u2018Ride on, ride on, young man,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Ride on the way ye ken;\nBut keep frae the streams o the Rock-river,\nFor they run proud and vain.\n217M.9 \u2018Ye winna want boys for meat, kind sir,\nAnd ye winna want men for fee;\nIt sets not us that are young women\nTo show young men the way.\u2019\n217M.10 \u2018O winna ye pity me, fair maid?\nO winna ye pity me?\nO winna ye pity my poor steed,\nStnads trembling at yon tree?\u2019\n217M.11 \u2018Ride on, ride on, ye rank rider,\nYour steed\u2019s baith stout and strang;\nFor out o the ewe-bught I winna come,\nFor fear that ye do me wrang.\n217M.12 \u2018For well ken I by your high-colld hat,\nAnd by your gay gowd ring,\nThat ye are the Earl o Rock-rivers,\nThat beguiles a\u2019 our young women.\u2019\n217M.13 \u2018O I\u2019m not the earl o the Rock-rivers,\nNor ever thinks to be;\nBut I am ane o his finest knights,\nRides aft in his companie.\n217M.14 \u2018I know you well by your lamar beads,\nAnd by your merry winking ee,\nThat ye are the maid o the Cowdenknowes,\nAnd may very well seem to be.\u2019\n217M.15 He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd by the grass-green sleeve,\nHe\u2019s laid her down by the ewe-bught-wa,\nAt her he spiered nae leave.\n217M.16 When he had had got his wills o her,\nAnd his wills he had taen,\nHe lifted her up by the middle sae sma,\nSays, Fair maid, rise up again.\n217M.17 Then he has taen out a siller kaim,\nKaimd down her yellow hair;\nSays, Fair maid, take that, keep it for my sake,\nCase frae me ye never get mair.\n217M.18 Then he put his hand in his pocket,\nAnd gien her guineas three;\nSays, Take that, fair maiden, till I return,\n\u2019Twill pay the nurse\u2019s fee.\n217M.19 Then he lap on his milk-white steed,\nAnd he rade after his men,\nAnd a\u2019 that they did say to him,\n\u2018Dear master, ye\u2019 ve tarried lang.\u2019\n217M.20 \u2018I\u2019ve ridden east, I\u2019ve ridden west,\nAnd over the cowdenknowes,\nBut the bonniest lass that eer I did see,\nWas i the ewe-bught, milking her ewes.\u2019\n217M.21 She\u2019s taen her milk-pail on her head,\nAnd she gaed singing hame;\nBut a\u2019 that her auld father did say,\n\u2018Daughter, ye\u2019ve tarried lang.\u2019\n\u2018O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom o the Cowdenknowes!\nAye sae sair \u2019s I may rue the day,\nIn the ewe-bughts, milking my ewes.\n217M.22 \u2018O this is a mirk and a misty night,\nO father, as ye may see;\nThe ewes they ran skipping over the knowes,\nAnd they woudna bught in for me.\n217M.23 . . . .\n. . . .\n\u2018Before that he\u2019d taen the lamb that he took,\nI rather he\u2019d taen other three.\u2019\n217M.24 When twenty weeks were come and gane,\nAnd twenty weeks and three,\nThe lassie\u2019s colour grew pale and wan,\nAnd she longed this knight to see.\n217M.25 Says, \u2018Wae to the fox came amo our flock!\nI wish he had taen them a\u2019\nBefore that he\u2019d taen frae me what he took;\nIt\u2019s occasiond my downfa.\u2019\n217M.26 It fell ance upon a time\nShe was ca\u2019ing hame her kye,\nThere came a troop o merry gentlemen,\nAnd they wyled the bonny lassie by.\n217M.27 But one o them spake as he rode past,\nSays, Who owes the bairn ye are wi?\nA little she spake, but thought wi hersell,\n\u2018Perhaps to ane as gude as thee.\u2019\n217M.28 O then she did blush as he did pass by,\nAnd dear! but she thought shame,\nAnd all that she did say to him,\n\u2018Sir, I have a husband at hame.\u2019\n217M.29 \u2018Ye lie, ye lie, ye well-far\u2019d maid,\nSae loud as I hear you lie!\nFor dinna ye mind yon misty night,\nYe were in the bught wi me?\n\u2018O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom o the Cowdenknowes!\nAye sae sweet as I heard you sing,\nIn the ewe-bughts, milking your ewes.\u2019\n217M.30 \u2018O well do I mind, kind sir,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018As ye rode over the hill;\nYe took frae me my maidenhead,\nFell sair against my will.\n\u2018O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom o the Cowdenknowes!\nAnd aye sae sair as I rue the day\nI met you, milking my ewes.\n217M.31 \u2018And aye as ye spake, ye lifted your hat,\nYe had a merry winking ee;\nI ken you well to be the man,\nThen kind sir, O pity me!\u2019\n217M.32 \u2018Win up, win up, fair maiden,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Nae langer here ye\u2019ll stay;\nThis night ye\u2019se be my wedded wife,\nWithout any more delay.\u2019\n217M.33 He lighted aff his milk-white steed\nAnd set the lassie on;\n\u2018Ca in your kye, auld man,\u2019 he did say,\n\u2018She\u2019ll never ca them in again.\n217M.34 \u2018I am the Earl o the Rock-rivers,\nHae fifty ploughs and three,\nAnd am sure I\u2019ve chosen the fairest maid\nThat ever my eyes did see.\u2019\n217M.35 Then he stript her o the robes o grey,\nDonned her in the robes o green,\nAnd when she came to her lord\u2019s ha\nThey took her to be some queen.\nO the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,\nThe broom o the Cowdenknowes!\nAnd aye sae sweet as the bonny lassie sang,\nThat ever she milked the ewes.\n217N: The Broom of Cowdenknows\n217N.1 O THERE war a troop o merry gentlemen\nCam riding oure the knowes,\nAnd they hear the voice o a bonny lass,\nIn the bichts, milking the yowes.\n217N.2 \u2018O save thee, O save thee, my bonnie may!\nO saved may ye be!\nMy steed he has riden wrang,\nFain wad I ken the way.\u2019\n217N.3 She has tane the steed by the bridle-reins,\nHas led him till the way,\nAnd he has tane out three gowd rings,\nGien them to that bonnie may.\n217N.4 And he has tane her by the milk-white hand\nAnd by the gerss-green sleeve,\nAnd he laid her doun on the side o yon hill,\nAt her daddie speird na leave.\n217N.5 Now she has hame to her father gane,\nHer father did her blame:\n\u2018O whare hae ye been, my ae dochter?\nFor ye hae na been your lane.\u2019\n217N.6 \u2018O the nicht is mirk, and very, very wet,\nYe may gang to the door and see;\nO there\u2019s nabody been wi me, father,\nThere\u2019s nabody been wi me.\n217N.7 \u2018But there cam a tod to your bucht, father,\nThe like o him I neer saw;\nAfore you\u2019d gien him the lamb that he took,\nYe\u2019d rather hae gien them a\u2019.\n217N.8 \u2018O wae be to my father\u2019s sheep-hird,\nAn ill death may he dee!\nFor bigging the bucht sae nar the road,\nLet the Lochinvar to me!\u2019\n217N.9 She\u2019s tane her pig and her cog in her hand,\nAnd she\u2019s gane to milk the kye;\nBut ere she was aware, the Laird o Lochinvar\nCam riding in the way.\n217N.10 \u2018O save thee, O save thee, my bonnie may!\nI wish ye may be sound;\nO save thee, O save thee, my bonnie may!\nWhat maks thy belly sae round?\u2019\n217N.11 O she has turnd hersel round about,\nAnd she within her thoucht shame:\n\u2018O it\u2019s nabody\u2019s wills wi me, kind sir,\nFor I hae a gudeman o my ain.\u2019\n217N.12 \u2018Ye lee, ye lee, my bonnie may,\nWeel do I ken ye lee!\nFor dinna ye mind o the three gowd rings\nI gied ye o the new moneye?\u2019\n217N.13 \u2018O weel do I mind thee, kind sir,\nO weel do I mind thee;\nFor ae when ye spak ye lifted up your hat,\nAnd ye had a bonnie twinklin ee.\u2019\n217N.14 \u2018O ye need na toil yoursel, my dear,\nNeither to card nor to spin;\nFor there\u2019s ten pieces I gie unto thee;\nKeep them for your lying in.\u2019\n217N.15 Now she has hame to her father gane,\nAs fast as she could hie;\nAnd she was na weel crownd wi joy\nTill her auld son gat she.\n217N.16 But she\u2019ll na tell the daddie o it\nTill father not to mither,\nAnd she\u2019ll na tell the daddie o it\nTo sister nor to brither.\n217N.17 And word is to the Lochinvar,\nAnd word is to him gane,\nThat sic a tenant\u2019s dochter\nHas born a bastard son:\n217N.18 And she\u2019ll na tell the daddie o it\nTo father nor to mither,\nAnd she\u2019ll na tell the daddie o it\nTill sister nor to brither.\n217N.19 \u2018O weel do I ken the reason o that,\nAnd the reason weel do I ken;\nO weel ken I the reason o that;\nIt\u2019s to some o her father\u2019s men.\n217N.20 \u2018But I will awa to Littlejohn\u2019s house,\nShule them out o the door;\nFor there\u2019s na tenant on a\u2019 my land\nShall harbour an arrant hure.\u2019\n217N.21 Then out and spak the house-keeper,\n\u2018Ye\u2019d better lat her abee;\nFor an onie harm befa this may,\nA\u2019 the wyte will be on me.\u2019\n217N.22 O he has turnd himsel round about,\nWithin himsel thoucht he\n\u2018Better do I loe her little finger\nThan a\u2019 thy haill bodie.\n217N.23 \u2018Gae saddle to me my six coach-mares,\nPut a\u2019 their harness on,\nAnd I will awa to Littlejohn\u2019s house\nFor reports o this bastard son.\u2019\n217N.24 Now whan he cam to Littlejohn\u2019s house,\nLittlejohn was at the door:\n\u2018Ye rascal, ye rogue, ye impudent dog,\nWill ye harbour an arrant hure!\u2019\n217N.25 \u2018O pardon me, my sovereign liege,\nO pardon me, I pray;\nOh that the nicht that she was born\nShe\u2019d deed the very neist day!\u2019\n217N.26 But he is in to his bonnie lassie gane,\nAnd has bolted the door behind,\nAnd there he has kissd his bonnie lassie sweet,\nIt\u2019s over and over again.\n217N.27 \u2018Ye did weel, ye did weel, my bonnie may,\nTo keep the secret twixt me and thee;\nFor I am the laird o the Ochilberry swair,\nThe lady o \u2019t I\u2019ll mak thee.\n217N.28 \u2018Come doun, come duun, now gentlemen a\u2019,\nAnd set this fair lady on;\nMither, ye may milk the ewes as ye will,\nFor she\u2019ll neer milk them again.\n217N.29 \u2018For I am the laird o the Ochilberry swair,\nO thirty plows and three,\nAnd I hae gotten the bonniest may\nThat\u2019s in a\u2019 the south countrie.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 217. The Broom of Cowdenknows","type":"page"}