‘O, lady fair, I have no steed but one,
But thou shalt ride and I will run.’
‘O, Earl Brand, but my father has two,
And thou shalt have the best of tho’.’
Now they have ridden o’er moss and moor,
And they have met neither rich nor poor;
Till at last they met with old Carl Hood,
He’s aye for ill, and never for good.
‘Now Earl Brand, an ye love me,
Slay this old Carl and gar him dee.’
‘O, lady fair, but that would be sair,
To slay an auld Carl that wears grey hair.
‘My own lady fair, I’ll not do that,
I’ll pay him his fee . . . . . . ’
‘O, where have ye ridden this lee lang day,
And where have ye stown this fair lady away?’
‘I have not ridden this lee lang day,
Nor yet have I stown this lady away;
‘For she is, I trow, my sick sister,
Whom I have been bringing fra’ Winchester.’