They set her maids behind her,
To hear what they would say;
But the first question he ask'd at her
Was always answered nay;
The next question he ask'd at her65
Was, "Mount and come away?"
It's up the Couden bank,
And doun the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a weel won play.70
O meikle was the blood was shed
Upon the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a' fair play.
Come, a' ye English gentlemen,75
That is of England born,
Come na doun to Scotland,
For fear ye get the scorn.
They'll feed ye up wi' flattering words,
And that's foul play;80
And they'll dress you frogs instead of fish,
Just on your wedding day.
BONNY BABY LIVINGSTON.
Jamieson's Popular Ballads, ii. 135, from Mrs. Brown's recitation. Barbara Livingston, a shorter piece, with a different catastrophe, is given [in the Appendix], from Motherwell's collection.