KATHARINE JAFFARY—H
1
There was a lady fair, fair,
Lived low down in yon glen, O
And she's been courted far an near
By several gentlemen. O
2
At length the laird of Lammington
Came frae the West Country,
All to court that pretty girl,
And her bridegroom for to be.
3
He told her father, so did he her mother,
And all the rest of her kin,
And he has told the lass hersel,
And her kind favour has won.
4
At length the laird of Laughenwaur
Came frae the English border,
And all to court that pretty girl,
Well mounted in good order.
5
He told her father, so did he her mother,
As I heard people say,
But he ner told the lass hersel,
Till on her wedding-day.
6
But when the wedding-day was fixed,
And married for to be,
Then Lamington came to the town,
The bridegroom for to see.
7
‘O are ye come for sport, sir?’ he said,
‘Or are ye come for play?
Or are ye for a sight o my bonny bride,
Upon her wedding-day?’
8
‘A'm neither come for sport, sir,’ he said,
‘Nor am I come for play,
But if I had one word o the bride
I'd mount and go away.’
9
There was a cup of the good red wine
Was filled out them between,
And aye she drank to Lammington,
Who her true-love had been.
10
He's taen her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve;
He's mounted her behind him then,
At the bridegroom speered no leave.
11
The blood ran down by Cowden banks,
And down by Cowden brae,
And aye they gaured the piper play
‘It was a foul, foul play.’
12
Ye gentlemen of Lochenwaur,
That's laigh in England born,
Come ner to Scotland to court a wife,
Or be sure ye'l get the scorn.
13
The'll keep ye up, and tamper ye at,
Until yer wedding-day,
And they'l gie ye frogs instead o fish,
And they'll play ye a foul play.
