HIND HORN—I
[_]
a. From the recitation of Miss Jane Webster, formerly of
Airds of Kells, now of Dalry, both in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright,
December 12, 1882. b. From Miss Jessie Jane
Macmath and Miss Agnes Macmath, nieces of Miss Webster,
December 11, 1882: originally derived from an old
nurse. Communicated by Mr Macmath, of Edinburgh.
1
She gave him a gay gold ring,
Hey lillelu and how lo lan
But he gave her a far better thing.
With my hey down and a hey diddle downie
2
He gave her a silver wan,
With nine bright laverocks thereupon.
[OMITTED]
3
Young Hynd Horn is come to the lan,
There he met a beggar man.
4
‘What news, what news do ye betide?’
‘Na news but Jeanie's the prince's bride.’
5
‘Wilt thou give me thy begging weed?
And I'll give thee my good grey steed.
6
‘Wilt thou give me thy auld grey hair?
And I'll give ye mine that is thrice as fair.’
7
The beggar he got on for to ride,
But young Hynd Horn is bound for the bride.
8
First the news came to the ha,
Then to the room mang the gentles a'.
9
‘There stands a beggar at our gate,
Asking a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake.’
10
‘I'll ga through nine fires hot
To give him a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake.’
11
She gave him the drink, and he dropt in the ring;
The lady turned baith pale an wan.
12
‘Oh got ye it by sea, or got ye it by lan?
Or got ye it off some dead man's han?’
13
‘I got it not by sea, nor I got it not by lan,
But I got it off thy milk-white han.’
14
‘I'll cast off my dress of red,
And I'll go with thee and beg my bread.
15
‘I'll cast off my dress of brown,
And follow you from city to town.
16
‘I'll cast off my dress of green,
For I am not ashamed with you to be seen.’
17
‘You need not cast off your dress of red,
For I can support thee on both wine and bread.
18
‘You need not cast off your dress of brown,
For I can keep you a lady in any town.
19
‘You need not cast off your dress of green,
For I can maintain you as gay as a queen.’
