University of Virginia Library


151

YOUNG HUNTING—G

[_]

Herd's MSS, I, 34; Herd's Scottish Songs, 1776, I, 148.

1

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.’

2

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.

3

Then up and spake a bonie bird,
That sat upon the tree:
‘What hae ye done wi Earl Richard?
Ye was his gay lady.’

4

‘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.’

5

‘Awa, awa, ye ill woman,
Nae ill woman for me;
What ye hae done to Earl Richard,
Sae wad ye do to mee.’
[OMITTED]

6

‘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.’
[OMITTED]

7

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.
[OMITTED]