She's gane down to her father's stable,
Where all his steeds did stand;
And she's taken the best, and she's left the warst,15
That was in her father's land.
He rode on, and she rode on,
They rode a lang simmer's day,
Until they came to a broad river,
An arm of a lonesome sea.20
"Loup off the steed," says false Sir John;
"Your bridal bed you see;
For it's seven king's daughters I have drowned here,
And the eighth I'll out make with thee.
"Cast off, cast off your silks so fine,25
And lay them on a stone,
For they are o'er good and o'er costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.
"Cast off, cast off your Holland smock,
And lay it on this stone,30
For it is too fine and o'er costly
To rot in the salt sea foam."
"O turn you about, thou false Sir John,
And look to the leaf o' the tree;
For it never became a gentleman35
A naked woman to see."
He's turn'd himself straight round about,
To look to the leaf o' the tree;
She's twined her arms about his waist,
And thrown him into the sea.40
"O hold a grip of me, May Colvin,
For fear that I should drown;
I'll take you hame to your father's gates,
And safely I'll set you down."