Then up and spoke the popinjay
That sat upon the tree—
"What hae ye done wi' Erl Richard?
Ye were his gay ladye."—
"Come down, come down, my bonny bird,35
And sit upon my hand;
And thou sall hae a cage o' gowd,
Where thou hast but the wand."—
"Awa! awa! ye ill woman!
Nae cage o' gowd for me;40
As ye hae done to Erl Richard,
Sae wad ye do to me."
She hadna cross'd a rigg o' land,
A rigg but barely ane,
When she met wi' his auld father,45
Came riding all alane.
"Where hae ye been, now, ladye fair,
Where hae ye been sae late?
We hae been seeking Erl Richard,
"Erl Richard kens a' the fords in Clyde,
He'll ride them ane by ane;
And though the night was ne'er sae mirk,
Erl Richard will be hame."
O it fell anes, upon a day,55
The King was boun to ride;
And he has mist him, Erl Richard,
Should hae ridden on his right side.
The ladye turn'd her round about,
Wi' mickle mournfu' din—60
"It fears me sair o' Clyde water,
That he is drown'd therein."—
"Gar douk, gar douk," the King he cried,
"Gar douk for gold and fee;
O wha will douk for Erl Richard's sake,65
Or wha will douk for me?"