"The water weets my tae," she said,
"The water weets my knee;
75 And hold up my bridle reins, sir knight,
For the sake of Our Ladye."
"If I would help thee now," he said,
"It were a deadly sin;
For I've sworn neir to trust a fair may's word,
80 Till the water weets her chin."
"O the water weets my waist," she said,
"Sae does it weet my skin;
And my aching heart rins round about,
The burn maks sic a din.
85 "The water is waxing deeper still,
Sae does it wax mair wide;
And aye the farther that we ride on,
Farther off is the other side.
"O help me now, thou false, false knight,
90 Have pity on my youth;
For now the water jawes owre my head,
And it gurgles in my mouth."
The knight turned right and round about,
All in the middle stream,
95 And he stretched out his head to that lady,
But loudly she did scream.
"O this is hallow-morn," he said,
"And it is your bridal day;
But sad would be that gay wedding,
100 If bridegroom and bride were away.
"And ride on, ride on, proud Margaret!
Till the water comes o'er your bree;
For the bride maun ride deep, and deeper yet,
Wha rides this ford wi' me.
105 "Turn round, turn round, proud Margaret!
Turn ye round, and look on me;
Thou hast killed a true knight under trust,
And his ghost now links on with thee."