John Thomson fought against the Turks
Three years, intill a far countrie;
And all that time, and something mair,
Was absent from his gay ladie.
But it fell ance upon a time,5
As this young chieftain sat alane,
He spied his lady in rich array,
As she walk'd ower a rural plain.
"What brought ye here, my lady gay,
So far awa from your ain countrie?10
I've thought lang, and very lang,
And all for your fair face to see."
For some days she did with him stay,
Till it fell ance upon a day,
"Fareweel, for a time," she said,15
"For now I must boun hame away."
He's gi'en to her a jewel fine,
Was set with pearl and precious stane;
Says, "My love, beware of these savages bold
That's in your way as ye gang hame.20
"Ye'll tak the road, my lady fair,
That leads you fair across the lea:
That keeps you from wild Hind Soldan,
And likewise from base Violentrie."
Wi' heavy heart thir twa did pairt,25
She mintet as she wuld gae hame;
Hind Soldan by the Greeks was slain,
But to base Violentrie she's gane.
When a twelvemonth had expired,
John Thomson he thought wondrous lang,30
And he has written a braid letter,
And sealed it weel wi' his ain hand.
He sent it with a small vessel
That there was quickly gaun to sea;
And sent it on to fair Scotland,35
To see about his gay ladie.