"Jump on behind, ye weill-faur'd may,35
Or do ye chuse to ride?"
"No, thank ye, sir," the lady said,
"I wad rather chuse to wyde;"
And afore that he was 'mid-water,
She was at the ither side.40
"Turn back, turn back, ye weill-faur'd may,
My heart will brak in three;"
"And sae did mine, on yon bonnie hill-side,
Whan ye wad na let me be."
"Whare gat ye that gay claithing,45
This day I see on thee?"
"My mither was a gude milk-nurse,
And a gude nourice was she,
She nurs'd the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,
And gat a' this to me."50
Whan she cam to the king's court,
She rappit wi' a ring;
Sae ready was the king himsel'
To lat the lady in.
"Gude day, gude day, my liege the king,55
Gude day, gude day, to thee;"
"Gude day," quo' he, "my lady fair,
What is't ye want wi' me?"
"There is a knicht into your court,
This day has robbed me;"60
"O has he tane your gowd," he says,
"Or has he tane your fee?"
"He has na tane my gowd," she says,
"Nor yet has he my fee;
But he has tane my maiden-head,65
The flow'r o' my bodie."
"O gin he be a single man,
His body I'll gie thee;
But gin he be a married man,
I'll hang him on a tree."70
Then out bespak the queen hersel',
Wha sat by the king's knee:
"There's na a knicht in a' our court
Wad hae dune that to thee,
Unless it war my brither, Earl Richard,75
And forbid it, it war he!"