Fair Janet
No: 64; variant: 64C
- LIVD ance twa luvers in yon dale,
And they luvd ither weel;
Frae evning late to morning aire
Of luving luvd their fill.
- 'Now, Willie, gif you luve me weel,
As sae it seems to me,
Gar build, gar build a bonny schip,
Gar build it speedilie.
- 'An we wLl saL the sea sae g-een,
Unto some far countrie,
Or we'll sail to some bonie isle,
Stands lanely midst the sea.'
- But lang or ere the schip was built,
Or deckd, or rigged out,
Came sick a pain in Annet's back
That down she coud na lout.
- 'Now, Willie, gif ye luve me weel,
As sae it seems to me,
O haste, haste, bring me to my bowr,
And my bowr-maidens three.'
- He's taen her in his arms twa,
And kissd her, cheik and chin;
He's brocht her to her ain sweet bowr,
But nae bowr-maid was in.
- 'Now leave my bower, Willie,' she said,
'Now leave me to my lane;
When she was travelling.'
- He's stepped three steps down the stair,
Upon the marble stane;
Sae loud's he heard his young son's greet,
But and his lady's mane!
- 'Now come, now come, Willie,' she said,
'Tak your young son frae me,
And hie him to your mother's bower,
With speed and privacie.'
- He's taen his young son in his arms,
He's kissd him, cheik and chin;
He's hied him to his mother's bower,
By th' ae light of the moon.
- And with him came the bold barone,
And he spake up wi pride:
'Gar seek, gar seek the bower-maidens,
Gar busk, gar busk the bryde.'
- 'My maidens, easy with my back,
And easy with my side;
O set my saddle saft, Willie,
I am a tender bryde.'
- When she came to the burrow-town,
They gied her a broch and ring,
And when she came to . . .,
They had a fair wedding.
- O up then spake the norland lord,
And blinkit wi his ee:
'I trow this lady's born a bairn,'
Then laucht loud lauchters three.
- And up then spake the brisk bridegroom,
And he spake up wi pryde:
'Gin I should pawn my wedding-gloves,
I will dance wi the bryde.'
- 'Now had your tongue, my lord,' she said,
'Wi dancing let me be;
I am sae thin in flesh and blude,
Sma dancing will serve me.'
- But she's taen Willie be the hand,
The tear blinded her ee:
'But I wad dance wi my true-luve,
But bursts my heart in three.'
- She's taen her bracelet frae her arm,
Her garter frae her knee:
'Gie that, gie that to my young son,
He'll neer his mother see.'
- 'Gar deal, gar deal the bread, mother,
Gar deal, gar deal the wyne;
This day hath seen my true-love's death,
This nicht shall witness myne.'