Young Hunting
No: 68; variant: 68G
- SHE has calld to her her bower-maidens,
She has calld them one by one:
'There is a dead man in my bower,
I wish that he was gone.'
- They have booted him, and spurred him,
As he was wont to ride,
A hunting-horn around his waist,
A sharp sword by his side.
- Then up and spake a bonie bird,
That sat upon the tree:
'What hae ye done wi Earl Richard?
Ye was his gay lady.'
- 'Cum down, cum down, my bonie bird,
Cum sit upon my hand;
And ye sall hae a cage o the gowd,
Where ye hae but the wand.'
- 'Awa, awa, ye ill woman,
Nae ill woman for me;
What ye hae done to Earl Richard,
Sae wad ye do to mee.'
- 'O there's a bird intill your bowir
That sings sae sad and sweet;
O there's a bird intill your bour
Kept me frae my nicht's sleep.'
- And she sware by the grass sae greene,
Sae did she by the corn,
That she had not seen Earl Richard
Sen yesterday at morn.