"I wish I had drunk your water, sister,185
When that I did drink of your wine;
Since for a carle's fair daughter,
It aye gars me dree all this pine."
"May be I am a carle's daughter,
And may be never nane;190
When ye met me in the good green wood,
Why did you not let me alane?
"Gude e'en, gude e'en, ye heather berries,
As ye're growing on yon hill;
If the auld carle and his bags were here,195
I wot he would get meat his fill.
"Late, late at night I knit our pokes,
With even four-and-twenty knots;
And in the morn at breakfast time,
I'll carry the keys of an earl's locks.200
"Late, late at night I knit our pokes,
With even four-and-twenty strings;
And if you look to my white fingers,
They have as many gay gold rings."
"Away! away! ye ill woman,205
And sore your vile words grieveth me;
When you heed so little for yourself,
I'm sure ye'll heed far less for me.
"But if you are a carle's daughter,
As I take you to be,210
How did you get the gay clothing,
In green wood ye had on thee?"
"My mother she's a poor woman,
She nursed earl's children three;
And I got them from a foster sister,215
For to beguile such sparks as thee."
"But if you be a carle's daughter,
As I believe you be,
How did ye learn the good Latin,
In green wood ye spoke to me?"220