When we cam' in by Glasgow toun, But had I wist before I kiss'd That love had been so ill to win, SUPERNATURAL CLERK SAUNDERS. Clerk Saunders and may Margaret 'A bed, a bed,' Clerk Saunders said, A bed for you and me!' 'Fye na, fye na,' said may Margaret, Till anes we married be. 'For in may come my seven bauld brothers, 'Wi' torches burning bright; They'll say "We hae but ae sister, And behold she's wi' a knight !"" 'Then I'll take the sword frae my scabbard, And slowly lift the pin; And you may swear, and safe your aith, Ye never let Clerk Saunders in. 'And take a napkin in your hand, And you may swear, and safe your aith, It was about the midnight hour, When in and came her seven brothers, When in and came her seven brothers, They said, 'We hae but ae sister, And behold her lying with a knight!' Then out and spake the first o' them, 'I bear the sword shall gar him die!' And out and spake the second o' them, 'His father has nae mair than he!' And out and spake the third o' them, Then out and spake the fifth o' them, 'It were great sin true love to twain !' And out and spake the sixth o' them, 'It were shame to slay a sleeping man!' Then up and gat the seventh o' them, But he has striped his bright brown brand Clerk Saunders he started, and Margaret she turned And sad and silent was the night And they lay still and sleeped sound, And kindly to him she did say, 'It is time, true love, you were awa'.' But he lay still, and sleeped sound, Then in and came her father dear, 6 Comfort weel your seven sons; I ween 'twas neither knave nor loon The clinking bell gaed through the town, And Clerk Saunders stood at may Margaret's window, 'Are ye sleeping, Margaret?' he says, Or are ye waking presentlie? Give me my faith and troth again, I wot, true love, I gied to thee.' 'Your faith and troth ye sall never get, My mouth it is full cold, Margaret, And if I kiss thy comely mouth, Al. Thy days will soon be at an end. 'O, cocks are crowing a merry midnight, 'Thy faith and troth thou sall na get, 'Their beds are made in the heavens high, Down at the foot of our good lord's knee, Weel set about wi' gillyflowers : I wot sweet company for to see. O cocks are crowing a merry midnight, I wot the wild fowl are boding day; The psalms of heaven will soon be sung, And I, ere now, will be missed away.' Then she has ta'en a crystal wand, And she has stroken her troth thereon; She has given it him out at the shot-window, Wi' mony a sad sigh, and heavy groan. 'I thank ye, Marg'ret; I thank ye, Margret ; And aye I thank ye heartilie ; Gin ever the dead come for the quick, Be sure, Margret, I'll come for thee.' It's hosen and shoon, and gown alone, Until she came to the green forest, And there she lost the sight o' him. Is there ony room at your head, Saunders? Is there ony room at your feet? Or ony room at your side, Saunders, Where fain, fain, I wad sleep?' 'There's nae room at my head, Margret, My bed it is full lowly now: Amang the hungry worms I sleep. 'Cauld mould is my covering now, 'But plait a wand o' bonnie birk, 'And fair Marg'ret, and rare Margret, Gin ere ye love another man, Ne'er love him as ye did me.' Then up and crew the milk-white cock, THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL. [Sometimes printed as part of The Three Clerks o' Owsenford.] There lived a wife at Usher's Well, And a wealthy wife was she; She had three stout and stalwart sons, They hadna been a week from her, When word came to the carline wife, That her three sons were gane. |