"If she be with child," fair Johnie said,125
"As I trew weel she be,
I'll make it heir owre a' my land,
And her my gay ladie."
"But if she be wi' child," her father said,
"As I trew weel she be,130
To-morrow again eight o'clock,
High hanged thou shalt be."
Out and spoke Johnie's uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:
"Before that we see fair Johnie hanged,135
We'll a' fight till we die."
"But is there ever an [Italian] about your court,
That will fight duels three?
For before that I be hanged," Johnie said,
"On the [Italian's] sword I'll die."140
"Say on, say on," said then the king,
"It is weel spoken of thee;
For there is an [Italian] in my court
Shall fight you three by three."
O some is to the good green wood,145
And some is to the plain,
The queen with all her ladies fair,
The king with his merry men,
Either to see fair Johnie flee,
Or else to see him slain.150
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi' swords o' temper'd steel,
Until the draps o' red, red blood
Ran trinkling down the field.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,155
They fought right manfullie;
Till they left not alive, in a' the king's court,
A man only but three.