Lord Saunders
CLERK SAUNDERS—D
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 196, from the recitation of Mrs
Thomson.
1
‘O I have seven bold brethren,
And they are all valiant men,
If they knew a man that would tread my bower
His life should not go along wi him.’
2
‘Then take me up into your arms,
And lay me low down on your bed,
That ye may swear, and keep your oath clear,
That your bower-room I did na tread.
3
‘Tie a handkerchief round your face,
And you must tye it wondrous keen,
That you may swear, and keep your oath clear,
Ye saw na me since late yestreen.’
4
But they were scarsley gone to bed,
Nor scarse fa'n owre asleep,
Till up and started her seven brethren,
Just at Lord Saunders' feet.
5
Out bespoke the first brither,
‘Oh but love be wondrous keen!’
Out bespoke the second brither,
‘It's ill done to kill a sleeping man.’
6
Out bespoke the third brither,
‘We had better gae and let him be;’
Out bespoke the fourth brither,
‘He'll no be killd this night for me:’
7
Out bespoke the fifth brother,
‘This night Lord Saunders he shall die;
Tho there were not a man in all Scotland,
This night Lord Saunders he shall die.’
8
He took out a rousty rapier,
And he drew it three times thro the strae;
Between Lord Saunders' short rib and his side
He gard the rusty rapier gae.
9
‘Awake, awake, Lord Saunders,’ she said,
‘Awake, awake, for sin and shame!
For the day is light, and the sun shines bricht,
And I am afraid we will be taen.
10
‘Awake, awake, Lord Saunders,’ she said,
‘Awake, awake, for sin and shame!
For the sheets they are asweat,’ she said,
‘And I am afraid we will be taen.
11
‘I dreamed a dreary dream last night,
I wish it may be for our good,
That I was cutting my yellow hair,
And dipping it in the wells o blood.’
12
Aye she waukened at this dead man,
Aye she put on him to and fro;
Oh aye she waukend at this dead man,
But of his death she did not know.
[OMITTED]
13
‘It's I will do for my love's sake
What many ladies would think lang;
Seven years shall come and go
Before a glove go on my hand.
14
‘And I will do for my love's sake
What many ladies would not do;
Seven years shall come and go
Before I wear stocking or shoe.
15
‘Ther'll neer a shirt go on my back,
There'll neer a kame go in my hair,
There'll never coal nor candle-light
Shine in my bower nae mair.’
