[But up and spak her midmaist brother;85
And an angry laugh leugh he:
"The thorn that dabs, I'll cut it down,
Though fair the rose may be.
"The flower that smell'd sae sweet yestreen
Has lost its bloom wi' thee;90
And though I'm wae it should be sae,
Clerk Saunders, ye maun die.">[
And up and spak her thirden brother,
Ay in ill time spak he:
"Curse on his love and comeliness!—95
Dishonour'd as ye be,
The sword that hangs at my sword-belt
Sall quickly sinder ye!"
Her eldest brother has drawn his sword;
Her second has drawn anither;100
Between Clerk Saunders' hause and collar bane
The cald iron met thegither.
"O wae be to you, my fause brethren,
And an ill death mat ye die!
Ye mith slain Clerk Saunders in open field,105
And no in the bed wi' me."
When seven years were come and gane,
Lady Margaret she thought lang;
And she is up to the hichest tower,
By the lee licht o' the moon.110
She was lookin o'er her castle high,
To see what she might fa';
And there she saw a grieved ghost
Comin waukin [o'er the wa'].
"O are ye a man of mean," she says,115
"Seekin ony o' my meat?
Or are you a rank robber,
Come in my bower to break?"