The first line o' the letter he read,25
He was baith glad and fain;
But or he read the letter o'er,
He was baith pale and wan.
Then he has sent a messenger,
And out through all his land;30
And four-and-twenty armed men
Was all at his command.
But he has left his merry men all,
Left them on the lee;
And he's awa to the wedding house,35
To see what he could see.
But when he came to the wedding house,
As I do understand,
There were four-and-twenty belted knights
They rose all to honour him,
For he was of high renown;
They rose all for to welcome him,
And bade him to sit down.
O meikle was the good red wine45
In silver cups did flow;
But aye she drank to Lamington,
For with him would she go.
O meikle was the good red wine
In silver cups gaed round;50
At length they began to whisper words,
None could them understand.
"O came ye here for sport, young man,
Or came ye here for play?
Or came ye for our bonnie bride,55
On this her wedding day?"
"I came not here for sport," he said,
"Neither did I for play;
But for one word o' your bonnie bride,
I'll mount and go away."60