Wallace and his Leman
GUDE WALLACE—H
[_]
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 226.
1
Wallace wight, upon a night,
Came riding oer the linn,
And he is to his leman's bower,
And tirld at the pin.
2
‘O sleep ye, wake ye, lady?’ he said,
‘Ye'll rise, lat me come in.’
‘O wha's this at my bower-door,
That knocks, and knows my name?’
‘My name is William Wallace;
Ye may my errand ken.’
3
‘The truth to you I will rehearse,
The secret I'll unfold;
Into your enmies' hands this night
I fairly hae you sold.’
4
‘If that be true ye tell to me,
Do ye repent it sair?’
‘O that I do,’ she said, ‘dear Wallace,
And will do evermair!
5
‘The English did surround my house,
And forced me theretill;
But for your sake, my dear Wallace,
I coud burn on a hill.’
6
Then he gae her a loving kiss,
The tear droppd frae his ee;
Says, Fare ye well for evermair,
Your face nae mair I'll see.
7
She dressd him in her ain claithing,
And frae her house he came;
Which made the Englishmen admire,
To see this stalwart dame.
8
He is to Saint Johnston gane,
And there he playd him well;
For there he saw a well-far'd may,
Was washing at a well.
9
‘What news, what news, ye well-far'd may?
What news hae ye to me?
What news, what news, ye well-far'd may,
All from your north countrie?’
10
‘See ye not yon tavern-house,
That stands on yonder plain?
This very day have landet in it
Full fifteen Englishmen;
11
‘In search of Wallace, our dear champion,
Ordaining that he shoud dee.’
‘Then on my troth,’ said Wallace wight,
‘These Englishmen I'se see.’
