"O go, O go now my bower wife,
O go now hastilie,10
O go now to sweet Willie's bower,
And bid him cum speak to me.—
"Now, Willie, gif ye love me weel,
As sae it seems to me,
Gar build, gar build a bonny ship,15
Gar build it speedilie!
"And we will sail the sea sae green
Unto some far countrie;
Or we'll sail to some bonny isle,
Stands lanely midst the sea."20
But lang or e'er the ship was built,
Or deck'd or rigged out,
Cam sic a pain in Annet's back,
That down she cou'dna lout.
"Now, Willie, gin ye love me weel,25
As sae it seems to me,
O haste, haste, bring me to my bower,
And my bower maidens three."
He's ta'en her in his arms twa,
And kiss'd her cheek and chin,30
He's brocht her to her ain sweet bower,
But nae bower maid was in.
"Now leave my bower, Willie," she said,
"Now leave me to my lane;
Was never man in a lady's bower35
When she was travailing."
He's stepped three steps down the stair,
Upon the marble stane,
Sae loud's he heard his young son greet,