THE BROOM OF COWDENKNOWS—J
[_]
Kinloch MSS, VI, 11; in the handwriting of Dr Joseph
Robertson, and given him by his mother, Christian Leslie.
1
It was a dark and a misty night,
[OMITTED]
And by came a troop o gentlemen,
Said, Lassie, shew me the way.
2
‘Oh well ken I by your silk mantle,
And by your grass-green sleeve,
That you are the maid of the Cowdenknows,
And may well seem to be.’
3
‘I'm nae the maid of the Cowdenknows,
Nor ever think to be;
I am but ane of her hirewomen,
Rides aft in her companie.
4
‘Oh well do I ken by your milk-white steed,
And by your merry winking ee,
That you are the laird of Lochinvar,
And may well seem to be.’
5
‘I'm nae the laird of Lochinvar,
Nor may well seem to be;
But I am one of his merry young men,
And am oft in his companie.’
[OMITTED]
6
‘The tod was among your sheep, father,’
You may look forth and see;
And before he had taen the lamb he's taen
I had rather he had taen three.’
7
When twenty weeks were come and gane,
Twenty weeks and three,
The lassie she turned pale and wan
[OMITTED]
8
[OMITTED]
And was caain out her father's kye,
When by came a troop of gentlemen,
Were riding along the way.
9
‘Fair may it fa thee, weel-fa'it may!
Wha's aught the bairn ye're wi?’
‘O I hae a husband o my ain,
To father my bairn te.’
10
‘You lie, you lie, you well-far'd may,
Sae loud's I hear you lie!
Do you mind the dark and misty night
I was in the bught wi thee?’
11
‘Oh well do I ken by your milk-white steed,
And by your merry winkin ee,
That you are the laird of Lochinvar,
That was in the bught wi me.’
