"Gin I had kent yestreen, yestreen,
What I ken weel the day,
205 I shou'd hae taen your fu' fause heart,
Gien you a heart o' clay."

Then he appeared into her arms
Like the wolf that ne'er wad tame;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
210 Case they ne'er met again.

Then he appeared into her arms
Like the fire burning bauld;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He was as iron cauld.

215 And he appeared into her arms
Like the adder an' the snake;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,


He was her warld's maike.

And he appeared into her arms
220 Like to the deer sae wild;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He's father o' her child.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to a silken string;
225 She held him fast, lat him not gae,
Till she saw fair mornin'.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to a naked man;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
230 And wi' her he's gane hame.

These news hae reach'd thro' a' Scotland,
And far ayont the Tay,
That ladye Margaret, our king's dochter,
That nicht had gain'd her prey.

235 She borrowed her love at mirk midnicht,
Bare her young son ere day;
And though ye'd search the warld wide,
Ye'll nae find sic a may.