But say that I'm gane to a foreign land,45
Whare nae man does me know."
When he sat in his father's chair,
He grew baith pale and wan:
"O what blude 's that upon your brow?
O dear son, tell to me."50
"It is the blude o' my gude gray steed,
He wadna ride wi' me."
"O thy steed's blude was ne'er sae red,
Nor e'er sae dear to me:
O what blude 's this upon your cheek?55
O dear son, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my greyhound,
He wadna hunt for me."
"O thy hound's blude was ne'er sae red,
Nor e'er sae dear to me:60
O what blude 's this upon your hand?
O dear son, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my gay goss hawk,
He wadna flee for me."
"O thy hawk's blude was ne'er sae red,65
Nor e'er sae dear to me:
O what blude 's this upon your dirk?
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my ae brother,
O dule and wae is me!"70
"O what will ye say to your father?
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"I'll saddle my steed, and awa I'll ride
To dwell in some far countrie."
"O when will ye come hame again?75
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"When sun and mune leap on yon hill,
And that will never be."
She turn'd hersel' right round about,
And her heart burst into three:80
"My ae best son is deid and gane,
And my tother ane I'll ne'er see."