"I have an aiker of good ley land,
Which lyeth low by yon sea strand;
"It's ye maun till't wi' your touting horn,
And ye maun saw't wi' the pepper corn;
25 "And ye maun harrow't wi' a thorn,
And hae your wark done ere the morn;
"And ye maun shear it wi' your knife,
And no lose a stack o't for your life;
"And ye maun stack it in a mouse hole,
30 And ye maun thrash it in your shoe sole;
"And ye maun dight it in your loof,
And also sack it in your glove;
"And [ye maun] bring it over the sea,
Fair, and clean, and dry to me;
35 "And when that ye have done your wark,
Come back to me, and ye'll get your sark."
"I'll not quite my plaid for my life;
It haps my seven bairnes and my wife."
"My maidenhead I'll then keep still,
40 Let the Elfin knight do what he will.