"O now then," quo' the bonny Earl,
"That ever siccan a thing suld be;50
All ye that love, oh never build
Your nest upon the topmost tree.
"For oh the green leaves they will fall,
And roots and branches wither O;
But the virtue o' a leal woman,55
I trow wad never swither O.
"Go saddle me my mylk white steed,
Go saddle it so sadly O,
And I will ride out oure the lea,
To follow her Gipsy laddie O.60
"Go saddle me my bonny black,
And eke my gray cowt quickly O;
Gin I hae not Johnny Faa his head,
The de'il may claw me tightly O.
"Have you been east, or have you been west,65
Or have you been brisk and bonny O,
Or have you seen a gay lady
Following a Gipsy laddie O?"
He rode all the summer's night,
And part of the next morning O;70
At length he espied his own wedded wife,
She was cold, wet, and weary O.
The leddy sabbed, the leddy cried,
And wrung her hands sae sadly O;
And aye her moan was to the Earl,75
To spare her Gipsy laddie O.
"Why did you leave your houses and lands,
Or why did you leave your money O,
Or why did you leave your own wedded lord,
To follow the Gipsy laddie O?"80
"O what care I for houses and lands,
Or what care I for money O?
So as I have brew'd, so I will drink,
So fare you well, my honey O."