Trooper and Maid
No: 299; variant: 299[D]
- The tropper lad cam to oor gate,
And oh! but he was weary,
He rapped at and chapped at,
Syne called for his kind deary.
- The bonnie lass being in the close,
The moon was shining clearly,--
'Ye'r welcome here, my trooper lad,
Ye'r welcome, my kind deary.'
- She's taen his horse by the bridle-reins,
And led him to the stable,
She's gien him corn and hay to eat,
As much as he was able.
- She's taen the knight by the milk-white hand,
And led him to her chamber,
And gied him bread and cheese to eat,
And wine to drink his pleasure.
- 'Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ye noo,
Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ye,
An I'll gar a' your ribbons reel
In the morning or I leave ye.'
- . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
And she put off her wee white smock,
Crying, 'Laddie, are ye ready?'
- The first time that the trumpet played
Was, Up, up and awa, man!
The next time that the trumpet played
Was, The morn's the battle-day, man!
- 'Bonnie lassie, I maun leave ye noo,
Bonne lassie, I maun leave ye;
But, if e'er I come this way again
I will ca in an see ye.'
- Bread and cheese for gentlemen,
An corn and hay for horses;
Pipes and tobacco for auld wives,
And bonnie lads for lasses.
- 'When will us twa meet again?
When will we meet and marry?'
'When cockle-shells turn silver bells,
Nae langer, love, we'll tarry.'
- So he's taen his auld grey cloak about him noo,
An he's ower the mountains fairly,
Crying, 'Fare ye weel, my bonnie lass,
Farewell, my ain kind deary.'