C
From a MS. copy formerly in possession of Sir Walter Scott; communicated by the Rev. W. Forbes-Leith, through Mr Macmath.
1
There was a shepherd’s daughter
Sheering at the bear,
And by cam the Laird o Drum,
On an evening clear.
2
‘O will ye fancy me, fair maid?
O will ye fancy me?
O will ye fancy me, fair maid,
An lat the sheering be?’
3
‘O say na sae again, kind sir,
O say na sae again;
I’m owr low to be your bride,
Ye’r born owr high a man.’
4
Said, Fair maid, O rare maid,
Will ye on me rue?
Amang a’ the lasses o the land
I fancy nane but you.
5
‘Lay your love on another,’ she said,
‘And lay it not on me,
For I’m owr low to be your bride,
Your miss I’ll never be.
6
‘Yonder is my father dear,
Wi hogs upon yon hill;
Gif ye get but his consent,
I shall be at your will.’
7
He’s taen him to her father dear,
Keeps hogs upon yon hill,
An he has gotten his consent,
The may was at his will.
8
‘My daughter canna read or write,
She never was at school;
Weel can she milk cow and ewe,
An serve your house fu weel.
9
‘Weel can she shack your barns
An gae to mill an kill,
Saddle your steed in time o need,
And draw your boots hirsel.
10
‘She canna wear your silk sae fine,
Nor yet your silver clear;
The hue o the ewe man be her weed,
Altho she was your dear.’
11
He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,
An he has taen her hame;
He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,
An led her on to Drum.
12
There were four an twenty bold barons
Stood at the yet o Drum;
There was na ane amang them a’
That welcomd his lady hame.
13
Out then spak his brother dear,
Says, Ye’v done mickel wrong;
Ye’v wedded a mean woman,
The lack o a’ our kin.
14
‘I never did thee wrong, brother,
I never did thee wrong;
I’ve wedded a woman to work an win,
An ye hae ane to spen.
15
‘The last woman I wedded
Was aboon my degree;
I could na sit in her presence
But wi hat upon my knee.’
16
He’s taen her by the milk-white hand
An led her but an ben,
An in the ha, amang them a’,
He’s hailed her Lady Drum.
17
‘Now I’ve wedded the shepherd’s daughter,
An I hae brought her hame,
In the ha, amang ye a’,
She is welcome hame to Drum.’