Gude Wallace
No: 157; variant: 157H
- WALLACE wight, upon a night,
Came riding oer the linn,
And he is to his leman's bower,
And tirld at the pin.
- 'O sleep ye, wake ye, lady?' he said,
'Ye'll rise, lat me come in.'
'O wha's this at my bower-door,
That knocks, and knows my name?'
'My name is William Wallace,
Ye may my errand ken.'
- 'The truth to you I will rehearse,
The secret I'll unfold;
Into your enmies' hands this night
I fairly hae you sold.'
- 'If that be true ye tell to me,
Do ye repent it sair?'
'O that I do,' she said, 'dear Wallace,
And will do evermair!
- 'The English did surround my house,
And forced me theretill;
But for your sake, my dear Wallace,
I coud burn on a hill.'
- Then he gae her a loving kiss,
The tear droppd frae his ee;
Says, Fare ye well for evermair,
Your face nae mair I'll see.
- She dressd him in her ain claithing,
And frae her house he came;
Which made the Englishmen admire,
To see this stalwart dame.
- He is to Saint Johnston gane,
And there he playd him well;
For there he saw a well-far'd may,
Was washing at a well.
- 'What news, wnat news, ye well-far'd may?
What news hae ye to me?
What news, what news, ye well-far'd may,
All from your north countrie?'
- 'See ye not yon tavern-house,
That stands on yonder plain?
This very day have landet in it
Full fifteen Englishmen;
- 'In search of Wallace, our dear champion,
Ordaining that he shoud dee.'
'Then on my troth,' said Wallace wight,
'These Englishmen I'se see.'