"My love gae me a siller wand,
'Twas to rule ower a' Scotland;10
And she gae me a gay gowd ring,
The virtue o't was above a' thing."
"As lang's this ring it keeps the hue,
Ye'll know I am a lover true;
But when the ring turns pale and wan,15
Ye'll know I love another man."
He hoist up sails, and awa' sail'd he,
And sail'd into a far countrie;
And when he look'd upon his ring,
He knew she loved another man.20
He hoist up sails and home came he,
Home unto his ain countrie;
The first he met on his own land,
It chanc'd to be a beggar man.
"What news, what news, my gude auld man?25
What news, what news, hae ye to me?"
"Nae news, nae news," said the auld man,
"The morn's our queen's wedding day."
"Will ye lend me your begging weed,
And I'll lend you my riding steed?"30
"My begging weed will ill suit thee,
And your riding steed will ill suit me."
But part be right, and part be wrang,
Frae the beggar man the cloak he wan;
"Auld man, come tell to me your leed,35
What news ye gie when ye beg your bread."
"As ye walk up unto the hill,
Your pike staff ye lend ye till;
But whan ye come near by the yett,