Fair Annie up at her bower window65
Heard a' that knight did say:
"O God, my heavenly Father! gif
My heart mat brast in twae!"
Fair Annie stood at her bower window,
And heard that knight sae bald:70
"O God, my heavenly Father! gif
I mat my dearest hald!"
That lord is to Fair Annie gane:
Says, "Annie, thou winsome may,
O whatten a gude gift will ye gi'e75
My bride on her bridal day?"
"I'll gi'e her a gift, and a very gude gift,
And a dear-bought gift to me;
For I'll gi'e her my seven fair sons,
Her pages for to be."80
"O that is a gift, but nae gude gift,
Frae thee, Fair Annie, I ween;
And ye maun gi'e some richer gift
Befitting a noble queen."
"I'll gi'e her a gift, and a dear, dear gift,85
And a gift I brook wi' care;
For I'll gi'e her my dearest life,
That I dow brook nae mair."
"O that is a gift, but a dowie gift,
Now, Annie, thou winsome may;90
Ye maun gi'e her your best goud girdle,
Her gude will for to ha'e."
"Oh na, that girdle she ne'er shall fa';
That I can never bear;
The luckless morn I gave you a',95
Ye gae me that girdle to wear."
That lord before his bride gan stand:
"My noble bride and queen!
O whatten a gift to my lemman Annie