"Hoch! had I drank the well-water,
Whan first I drank the wine,
Never a mill-capon150
Wad hae been a love o' mine."
Whan she cam to Earl Richard's house,
The sheets war Hollan' fine;
"O haud awa thae linen sheets,
And bring to me the linsey clouts,155
I hae been best used in."
"O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,
My heart will brak in three;"
"And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,
"I wish I had drank the well-water,
Whan first I drank the beer;
That ever a shepherd's dochter
Shou'd hae been my only dear!"
"Ye'll turn about, Earl Richard,165
And mak some mair o' me:
An ye mak me lady o' ae puir plow,
I can mak you laird o' three."
"If ye be the Earl o' Stockford's dochter,
As I've some thouchts ye be,170
Aft hae I waited at your father's yett,
But your face I ne'er could see."
Whan they cam to her father's yett,
She tirled on the pin;
And an auld belly-blind man was sittin' there,175
As they were entering in:—
"The meetest marriage," the belly-blind did cry,
"Atween the ane and the ither;
Atween the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,
And the Queen o' England's brither."180