"O how can I hae pity on thee?
O why was your love sae easie won?30
Whan I hae a wife and children three,
Mair worthy than a' in Northumberland."
"Cook in your kitchen I will be,—
O that my love was sae easie won!
And serve your lady maist reverentlie,35
For I darna gang back to Northumberland."
"Cook in my kitchen, ye sall not be,—
Why was your love so easie won?
For I will hae na sic servants as thee,
So, get ye back to Northumberland.40
But laith was he the lassie to tyne,
A may's love whiles is easie won!
He hired an auld horse, and fee'd an auld man,
To carry her back to Northumberland.
Whan she cam her father afore,45
A may's love whiles is easie won!
She fell at his feet on her knees sae low,—
She was the fair flow'r o' Northumberland.
"O dochter, dochter, why was ye bauld,
O why was your love sae easie won!50
To be a Scot's hure in your fifteen year auld,
And ye the fair flow'r o' Northumberland!"
Her mother on her sae gentlie smil'd,—
"O that her love was sae easie won!
She's na the first that the Scots hae beguil'd,55
And she's still the fair flow'r o' Northumberland.
"She shanna want gowd, she shanna want fee,
Although her love was easie won;
She shanna want gowd to gain a man wi',
And she'll still be the fair flow'r o' Northumberland."60