"O sleep ye, wake ye, mither?" he says,
"Or are ye the bower within?"
["I sleep richt aft, I wake richt aft;]
What want ye wi' me, son?20
"Whare hae ye been a' night, Willie?
O wow! ye've tarried lang!"
"I have been courtin' fair Annie,
And she is frae me gane.
"There is twa maidens in a bower;25
Which o' them sall I bring hame?
The nut-brown maid has sheep and cows,
And fair Annie has nane."
"It's an ye wed the nut-brown maid,
I'll heap gold wi' my hand;30
But an ye wed her, fair Annie,
I'll straik it wi' a wand.
"The nut-brown maid has sheep and cows,
And fair Annie has nane;
And Willie, for my benison,35
The nut-brown maid bring hame."
"O I sall wed the nut-brown maid,
And I sall bring her hame;
But peace nor rest between us twa,
"But, alas, alas!" says sweet Willie,
"O fair is Annie's face!"
"But what's the matter, my son Willie,
She has nae ither grace."
"Alas, alas!" says sweet Willie,45
"But white is Annie's hand!"
"But what's the matter, my son Willie,
She hasna a fur o' land."