"I was na gentle gotten, madam,
Nor was I gentle born;110
Neither hae I gerss growin',
Nor hae I onie corn.
"I hae na onie lands or rents,
Lying at libertie;
Nor hae I onie education,115
To dance along wi' thee."
Whan the marriage it was oure,
And ilk ane took their horse,—
"It never sat a beggar's brat,
At na knicht's back to be."120
He lap on ae milk-white steed,
And she lap on anither,
And syne the twa rade out the way
Like sister and like brither.
The ladie met wi' a beggar-wife,125
And gied her half o' crown—
"Tell a' your neebours whan ye gae hame,
That Earl Richard's your gude-son."
"O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,
My heart will brak in three;"130
"And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,
Whan ye wad na lat me be."
Whan she cam to yon nettle-dyke—
"An my auld mither was here,
Sae weill as she wad ye pou;135
She wad boil ye weill, and butter ye weill,
And sup till she war fou,
Syne laye her head upo' her dish doup,
And sleep like onie sow."
And whan she cam to Tyne's water,140
She wylilie did say—
"Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,
With thee I bid gude-day.
"Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,
To you I bid gude-een;145
Whare monie a time I've fill'd my pock,
At mid-day and at een."