"O mother dear, I canna learn
Wha is the father of my bairn.
45 "But as I walk'd in the lowlands my lane,
I met a gentleman gallant and fine;
"He keepit me there sae late and sae lang,
Frae the ev'ning late till the morning dawn;
"And a' that he gied me to my propine,
50 Was a pair of green gloves, and a gay gold ring,
"Three lauchters of his yellow hair,
In case that we shou'd meet nae mair."
His lady mother went down the stair:
"Now son, now son, come tell to me,
55 Where's the green gloves I gave to thee?"
"I gied to a lady sae fair and so fine,
The green gloves and a gay gold ring:
"But I wad gie my castles and towers,
I had that lady within my bowers:
60 "But I wad gie my very life,
I had that lady to be my wife."