"My gude house cock, my only son,
Heir ower my land sae free;
If ony ruffian hae him slain,
High hanged shall he be, my dear,
High hanged shall he be."50
Then he's on to Maisry's bower door,
And tirled at the pin;
"Ye sleep ye, wake ye, daughter Maisry,
Ye'll open, lat me come in, my dear,
Ye'll open, lat me come in."55
Between the curtains and the wa',
She row'd her true love then;
And huly went she to the door,
And let her father in, my dear,
And let her father in.60
"What's become o' your maries, Maisry,
Your bower it looks sae teem?
What's become o' your green claithing?
Your beds they are sae thin, my dear,
Your beds they are sae thin."65
"Gude forgie you, father," she said,
"I wish ye be't for sin;
Sae aft as ye hae dreaded me,
But never found me wrang, my dear,
But never found me wrang."70
He turn'd him right and round about,
As he'd been gaun awa';
But sae nimbly as he slippet in,
Behind a screen sae sma', my dear,
Behind a screen sae sma'.75
Maisry thinking a' dangers past,
She to her love did say;
"Come, love, and take your silent rest,
My auld father's away, my dear,
My auld father's away!"80
Then baith lock'd in each other's arms,
They fell full fast asleep;
When up it starts her auld father,
And stood at their bed feet, my dear,
And stood at their bed feet.85
"I think I hae the villain now,
That my dear son did slay;
But I shall be reveng'd on him,
Before I see the day, my dear,