She’s taen her seven sons in her hand,
I wot she didna fail;
She met Lord Thomas and his bride,
As they came oer the dale.
“You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas,
You’re welcome to your land;
You’re welcome with your fair ladye,
That you lead by the hand.
“You’re welcome to your ha’s, ladye,
You’re welcome to your bowers;
Your welcome to your hame, ladye,
For a’ that’s here is yours.”
“I thank thee, Annie; I thank thee, Annie,
Sae dearly as I thank thee;
You’re the likest to my sister Annie,
That ever I did see.
“There came a knight out oer the sea,
And steald my sister away;
The shame scoup in his company,
And land where’er he gae!”
She hang ae napkin at the door,
Another in the ha,
And a’ to wipe the trickling tears,
Sae fast as they did fa.
And aye she served the lang tables
With white bread and with wine,
And aye she drank the wan water,
To had her colour fine.
And aye she served the lang tables,
With white bread and with brown;
And aye she turned her round about,
Sae fast the tears fell down.
And he’s taen down the silk napkin,
Hung on a silver pin,
And aye he wipes the tear trickling
A’down her cheek and chin.
And aye he turn’d him round about,
And smiled amang his men;
Says, “Like ye best the old ladye,
Or her that’s new come hame?”