D
Buchan’s MSS, II, 164.
1
There was a king, and a curious king,
And a king of royal fame,
He had ae daughter, he had never mair,
Lady Diamond was her name.
2
She’s fa’en into shame, and lost her good name,
And wrought her parents ’noy;
And a’ for her layen her love so low,
On her father’s kitchen-boy.
3
One night as she lay on her bed,
Just thinking to get rest,
Up it came her old father,
Just like a wandering ghaist.
4
‘Rise up, rise up, Lady Diamond,’ he says,
‘Rise up, put on your gown;
Rise up, rise up, Lady Diamond,’ he says,
‘For I fear ye go too roun.’
5
‘Too roun I go, ye blame me no,
Ye cause me not to shame;
For better love I that bonny boy
Than all your well-bred men.’
6
The king’s calld up his wall-wight men,
That he paid meat and fee:
‘Bring here to me that bonny boy,
And we’ll smore him right quietlie.’
7
Up hae they taken that bonny boy,
Put him between twa feather-beds;
Naething was dane, naething was said,
Till that bonny boy was dead.
8
The king’s taen out a broad, broad sword,
And streakd it on a strow,
And thro and thro that bonny boy’s heart
He’s gart cauld iron go.
9
Out he has taen his poor bloody heart,
Set it on a tasse of gold,
And set it before Lady Diamond’s face,
Said, Fair lady, behold!
10
Up she has taen this poor bloody heart,
And holden it in her hand:
‘Better loved I that bonny, bonny boy
Than all my father’s land.’
11
Up she has taen his poor bloody heart
And laid it at her head;
The tears away frae her eyes did fly,
And ere midnight she was dead.