There was a troup o' gentlemen
Came riding merrilie by,10
And one of them has rode out o' the way,
To the bought to the bonny may.
"Weel may ye save an' see, bonny lass,
An' weel may ye save an' see."—
"An' sae wi' you, ye weel-bred knight,15
And what's your will wi' me?"—
"The night is misty and mirk, fair may,
And I have ridden astray,
And will you be so kind, fair may,
As come out and point my way?"—20
"Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!
Your steed's baith stout and strang;
For out of the bought I dare na come,
For fear 'at ye do me wrang."—
"O winna ye pity me, bonny lass,25
O winna ye pity me?
An' winna ye pity my poor steed,
Stands trembling at yon tree?"—
"I wadna pity your poor steed,
Though it were tied to a thorn;30
For if ye wad gain my love the night,
Ye wad slight me ere the morn.
"For I ken you by your weel-busket hat,
And your merrie twinkling ee,
That ye're the Laird o' the Oakland hills,35
An' ye may weel seem for to be."
"But I am not the Laird o' the Oakland hills,
Ye're far mista'en o' me;
But I'm ane o' the men about his house,
An' right aft in his companie."—40