"I got ze in my father's house,145
Wi' mickle sin and shame;
I brocht thee up in gude green wode,
Under the heavy rain.
"Oft have I by thy cradle sitten,
And fondly seen thee sleip;150
Bot now I gae about thy grave,
The saut tears for to weip."
[And syne she kissd] his bluidy cheik,
And syne his bluidy chin:
"O better I loe my Gill Morice155
Than a' my kith and kin!"
["Away, away, ze il woman,]
And an ill deith mait ze dee:
Gin I had ken'd he'd bin zour son,
He'd neir bin slain for mee."160
[5]. The stall copies of the ballad complete the stanza thus:
His face was fair, lang was his hair,
In the wild woods he staid;
But his fame was for a fair lady
That lived on Carronside.
Which is no injudicious interpolation, inasmuch as it is founded upon the traditions current among the vulgar, regarding Gil Morice's comely face and long yellow hair. Motherwell.
[51-58]. A familiar commonplace in ballad poetry. See Childe Vyet, Lady Maisry, Lord Barnaby, &c.
[95], mazer.