O out it speaks a little wee bird,
As she sat on the brier:70
"Gae hame, gae hame, ye Lady Maisry,
And pay your maiden's hire."
"O I will pay my maiden's hire,
And hire I'll gi'e to thee;
If ye'll conceal this fatal deed,75
Ye's ha'e gowd for your fee."
Then out it speaks a bonny bird,
That flew aboon their head;
"Keep well, keep well your green claithing
Frae ae drap o' his bluid."80
"O I'll keep well my green claithing
Frae ae drap o' his bluid,
Better than I'll do your flattering tongue,
That flutters in your head.
"Come down, come down, my bonny bird,85
Light down upon my hand;
For ae gowd feather that's in your wing,
I wou'd gi'e a' my land."
"How shall I come down, how can I come down,
How shall I come down to thee?90
The things ye said to young Hunting,
The same ye're saying to me."
But it fell out on that same day,
The king was going to ride,
And he call'd for him, young Hunting,95
For to ride by his side.
Then out it speaks the little young son,
Sat on the nurse's knee,
"It fears me sair," said that young babe,