The first line o' the letter he read,
He was baith fain and glad;
But or he has read the letter o'er,
He's turned baith wan and sad.
Then he has sent a messenger,
To rin through a' his land;
And four and twenty armed men
Were sune at his command.
But he has left his merry men all,
Left them on the lee;
And he's awa' to the wedding-house,
To see what he could see.
They all rase up to honor him,
For he was of high renown;
They all rase up to welcome him,
And bade him to sit down.
O meikle was the gude red wine
In silver cups did flow;
But aye she drank to Lamington,
And fain with him wad go.
"O come ye here to fight, young lord?
Or come ye here to play?
Or come ye here to drink gude wine
Upon the wedding-day?"
"I come na here to fight," he said,
"I come na here to play;
I'll but lead a dance wi' the bonny bride,
And mount and go my way."
He's caught her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve;
He's mounted her hie behind himsel',
At her kinsfolk spier'd na leave.
It's up, it's up the Couden bank,
It's doun the Couden brae;
And aye they made the trumpet soun,
"It's a' fair play!"
Now a' ye lords and gentlemen
That be of England born,
Come ye na doun to Scotland thus,
For fear ye get the scorn!