B
Skene MS., p. 78; taken down from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.
1
There was a knight, [an a gallant knight,]
An a gallant knight was he,
An he’s faen in love
Wi his shepherd’s daghterie.
2
. . . . . . .
He could neither gang nor ride,
He fell so deep in her fancy,
Till his nose began to bleed.
3
‘Bonny may, an bra may,
Canna ye on me rue?
By a’ the maid I ever saw,
There is nane I loo by you.’
4
‘Ye’r a shepherd’s ae daghter,
An I’m a barron’s son;
An what pleasure I wad hae
To see ye gae out an in!’
5
‘I’m a shepherd’s ae dochter,
An ye’r a barron’s son;
An there is nae pleasure I could ha
To see ye gae out or in.
6
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
‘For I wadna gie the fancy of my bonny love
For na love nor favour o you.’
7
‘Bonny may, an bra may,
Canna ye on me rue?
By a’ the maids I ever saw
There is nane I loo by you.’
8
‘Lay na yer fancy, sir, on me,’ she says,
‘Lay na yer fancy on me;
For I’m our low to be yer bride,
An yer quine I’ll never be.
9
‘For I will wear nane o yer silks,
Nor nane o yer scarlet claes;
For the hue o the whin shall be my gown,
An I will gae as I pleas.’
10
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
‘Ye’r na our laigh to be my bride,
An my quine ye’s never be.
11
‘Bonny may, and bra may,
Winna ye on me rue?
By a’ the maids I ever see,
There’s nane I loo but you.’
12
‘Gin ye ha faen so deep in my fancy
Ye can neither gan[g] nor ride,
Gae tak me to the middle o the ring,
An bring me guid companie.’
13
He has taen her by the milk-white hand
And led her thro haas an bowers:
‘Ye’r the choice of my heart,
An a’ I hae is yours.’
14
He took her by the milk-white hand
And led her out and in:
‘Ye’r the choice o my heart,
My dear, ye’r welcome in.’
15
Out spake his brither John,
‘Brither, ye ha done great wrong;
Ye hae married a wife this night
Disdained by a’ yer kin.’
16
‘Hold yer tong, my brither John,
For I hae don na wrong;
For I ha married a wife to ...,
An ye ha ane to spend.’